Swimming 2016 Rio Olympic Review

Men’s 50m Freestyle

Anthony Ervin (United States) became the oldest man to win Olympics gold when reclaiming the title he won in Sydney. He edged out Florian Manaudou (France) by one-hundredths of a second. Nathan Adrian (United States) swam into third, beating Andriy Hovorov (Ukraine), who set two national records in earlier rounds, and Benjamin Proud (Great Britain).

🥇Anthony Ervin 🇺🇸

🥈Florian Manaudou 🇫🇷

🥉Nathan Adrian 🇺🇸

Men’s 100m Freestyle

Teenager Kyle Chalmers (Australia) set three World Junior Records on his way to winning gold. Behind him, Pieter Timmers (Belgium) managed to do that twice. Ning Zetao (China), Vladimir Morozov (Russia) and Joseph Schooling (Singapore) all failed to make the final, with Nathan Adrian (United States) edging his way through the heats before winning bronze. Just behind him were Santo Condorelli (Canada) and Duncan Scott (Great Britain), setting a National Record.

🥇Kyle Chalmers 🇦🇺

🥈Pieter Timmers 🇧🇪

🥉Nathan Adrian 🇺🇸

Men’s 200m Freestyle

Sun Yang (China) got the win after a battle for the lead down the home straight, with Chad Le Clos (South Africa), who went out aggressively, and Conor Dwyer (United States). James Guy (Great Britain) finished fourth from an outside lane, while Paul Biedermann (Germany) and Kosuke Hagino (Japan) disappointed in the final.

🥇Sun Yang 🇨🇳

🥈Chad Le Clos 🇿🇦

🥉Conor Dwyer 🇺🇸

Men’s 400m Freestyle

James Guy (Great Britain) led the field out at a strong pace, but was gradually pulled back. Mack Horton (Australia) closed him down as Guy faded, just holding off the fast-finishing Sun Yang (China). Winning bronze was Gabriele Detti (Italy), while fastest qualifier Conor Dwyer (United States) could only manage fourth.

🥇Mack Horton 🇦🇺

🥈Sun Yang 🇨🇳

🥉Gabriele Detti 🇮🇹

Men’s 1500m Freestyle

The big shock came as Sun Yang (China) failed to make it to the final. Mack Horton (Australia) failed to make a big impact in the race, as Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) took it out at a strong pace and slowly crushed his rivals. Connor Jaeger (United States) set an American Record in second, while Gabriele Detti (Italy) picked up another bronze.

🥇Gregorio Paltrinieri 🇮🇹

🥈Connor Jaeger 🇺🇸

🥉Gabriele Detti 🇮🇹

Men’s 100m Backstroke

Ryan Murphy (United States) became only the second swimmer to break 52 seconds, setting an Olympic Record. It was an incredibly strong field, led out by Mitch Larkin (Australia) who faded into fourth. Xu Jiayu (China) managed to get into second place, while David Plummer (United States) won bronze.

🥇Ryan Murphy 🇺🇸

🥈Xu Jiayu 🇨🇳

🥉David Plummer 🇺🇸

Men’s 200m Backstroke

Ryan Murphy (United States) completed a backstroke double as he held off the late surge of Mitch Larkin (Australia). He edged Evgeny Rylov (Russia) into third after losing to him in a semi-final. The three pulled over a second clear of all opposition, led by Xu Jiayu (China).

🥇Ryan Murphy 🇺🇸

🥈Mitch Larkin 🇦🇺

🥉Evgeny Rylov 🇷🇺

Men’s 100m Breaststroke

Adam Peaty (Great Britain) went out fast and continued to dominate with his high stroke rate, setting a massive World Record and defeating Cameron van der Burgh (South Africa) by over a second. All men in the final went under a minute, and it was Cody Miller (United States) who took bronze ahead of compatriot Kevin Cordes (United States).

🥇Adam Peaty 🇬🇧

🥈Cameron Van Der Burgh 🇿🇦

🥉Cody Miller 🇺🇸

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

Dmitriy Balandin (Kazakhstan) got the upset win from lane eight, with an attack on the final lap to move past Josh Prenot (United States). Third and seventh were only separated by 0.3 seconds, with Anton Chupkov (Russia) ahead of Andrew Willis (Great Britain), Yasuhiro Koseki (Japan), Ippei Watanabe (Japan) and Marco Koch (Germany). Watanabe set an Olympic Record in the semi-final but could not repeat that performance in the final.

🥇Dmitriy Balandin 🇰🇿

🥈Josh Prenot 🇺🇸

🥉Anton Chupkov 🇷🇺

Men’s 100m Butterfly

One of the most anticipated races of the Games saw young Joseph Schooling (Singapore) set an Olympic Record to beat Michael Phelps (United States). In his final Olympics, he tied for silver alongside arguably his two greatest rivals, Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) and Chad Le Clos (South Africa).

🥇Joseph Schooling 🇸🇬

🥈Michael Phelps 🇺🇸

🥈Chad Le Clos 🇿🇦

🥈László Cseh 🇭🇺

Men’s 200m Butterfly

Michael Phelps (United States) would defeat his arch rivals here as neither Laszlo Cseh (Hungary) nor Chad Le Clos (South Africa) came close. Instead, his closest rival was Masato Sakai (Japan) who swam a blistering final lap and only finished four hundredths behind Phelps. Cseh’s teammate Tamas Kenderesi (Hungary) swam the fastest time in both of the early rounds but could only get into third in the final.

🥇Michael Phelps 🇺🇸

🥈Masato Sakai 🇯🇵

🥉Tamás Kenderesi 🇭🇺

Men’s 200m Individual Medley

It was another gold medal for Michael Phelps (United States), who powered away with a strong freestyle leg. Long-time rival Ryan Lochte (United States) managed to get into the lead on the backstroke leg but faded into fifth. Kosuke Hagino (Japan) and Wang Shun (China) became the first Asian men to medal in the event, having not been in the top three on the final turn.

🥇Michael Phelps 🇺🇸

🥈Kosuke Hagino 🇯🇵

🥉Wang Shun 🇨🇳

Men’s 400m Individual Medley

Kosuke Hagino (Japan) set an Asian Record when holding off Chase Kalisz (United States). Daiya Seto (Japan) finished third with an almost two-second advantage over Max Litchfield (Great Britain). Unlucky not to make the final was Jacob Heidtmann (Germany), who was disqualified in the prelims for using two dolphin kicks on the breaststroke leg.

🥇Kosuke Hagino 🇯🇵

🥈Chase Kalisz 🇺🇸

🥉Daiya Seto 🇯🇵

Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay

At the first turn, four-hundredths of a second separated France, Brazil and United States. A strong leg from Michael Phelps drew the United States into the lead alongside Australia. Florent Manaudou pulled the French back into the race, but Nathan Adrian swum the fastest leg in the race to seal the gold for the United States.

🥇United States of America 🇺🇸

🥈France 🇫🇷

🥉Australia 🇦🇺

Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay

A deep United States team took a comfortable gold medal here, including a huge swim from Townley Haas, who went 1.44.1. The only man to come near that was James Guy, for Great Britain, who pulled back a second and a half gap from behind Japan. They still managed to edge Australia for third following a poor third leg by Daniel Smith.

🥇United States of America 🇺🇸

🥈Great Britain 🇬🇧

🥉Japan 🇯🇵

Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay

The incredibly deep team from the United States were always strong favourites and a World Record lead-off from David Plummer started them off well. The fastest-ever breaststroke split by Adam Peaty took time out of his rivals and gave Great Britain the lead, but the United States had Phelps and Adrian to pull back time and get them the win with an Olympic Record. Behind them, Duncan Scott held off the charging Kyle Chalmers of Australia to win silver.

🥇United States of America 🇺🇸

🥈Great Britain 🇬🇧

🥉Australia 🇦🇺

Men’s Open Water 10km

An incredible race saw two photo finishes decide the medals. Ferry Weertman (Netherlands) edged out the oldest competitor in the field, Spyridon Gianniotis (Greece). Behind him, there was a three-way battle for bronze. Marc-Antoine Olivier (France) got the touch over Zu Lijun (China) and Jack Burnell (Great Britain), who was subsequently disqualified.

🥇Ferry Weertman 🇳🇱

🥈Spyridon Gianniotis 🇬🇷

🥉Marc-Antoine Olivier 🇫🇷

Women’s 50m Freestyle

Pernille Blume (Denmark) had the quickest time in every round, culminating in a great final swim. The top six were only separated by 0.12, with Sarah Sjöström (Sweden) and Jeanette Ottesen (Denmark) both missing out on even making the final. Instead, Simone Manuel (United States) won silver over Aliaksandra Herasimenia (Belarus), Fran Halsall (Great Britain), Cate Campbell (Australia) and Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands).

🥇Pernille Blume 🇩🇰

🥈Simone Manuel 🇺🇸

🥉Aliaksandra Herasimenia 🇧🇾

Women’s 100m Freestyle

Perhaps the race of the Olympics came as strong favourite Cate Campbell (Australia) was upset. She had swum Olympic Records in the opening two rounds, but on the final lap in the final was passed by Penny Oleksiak (Canada) and Simone Manuel (United States). Both touched home at the exact same time, sharing the gold medal. Sarah Sjöström (Sweden) edged out Bronte Campbell (Australia) and Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands) to get bronze.

🥇Penny Oleksiak 🇨🇦

🥇Simone Manuel 🇺🇸

🥉Sarah Sjöström 🇸🇪

Women’s 200m Freestyle

Katie Ledecky (United States) proved herself to be the best freestyle swimmer by pulling away from Sarah Sjöström (Sweden). Federica Pellegrini (Italy) could only finish fourth, as she was beaten to a medal by Emma McKeon (Australia). Missy Franklin (United States) struggled in the semi-finals and was eliminated.

🥇Katie Ledecky 🇺🇸

🥈Sarah Sjöström 🇸🇪

🥉Emma McKeon 🇦🇺

Women’s 400m Freestyle

Katie Ledecky (United States) was at her blistering best, setting an Olympic Record in the heats before beating her own World Record in the final. Behind her, Jazz Carlin (Great Britain) pinched a silver medal from a fading Leah Smith (United States). The American had enough to hold off Boglárka Kapás (Hungary) and win her bronze.

🥇Katie Ledecky 🇺🇸

🥈Jazz Carlin 🇬🇧

🥉Leah Smith 🇺🇸

Women’s 800m Freestyle

Another dominant performance from Katie Ledecky (United States) saw her, once again, smash her own World Record. She won by 11 seconds over Jazz Carlin (Great Britain), who this time held off Boglarka Kapás (Hungary) to win silver. Mireia Belmonte (Spain) did not manage to make her way back onto the podium.

🥇Katie Ledecky 🇺🇸

🥈Jazz Carlin 🇬🇧

🥉Boglarka Kapás 🇭🇺

Women’s 100m Backstroke

Katinka Hosszú (Hungary) battled back to take victory over Kathleen Baker (United States). Emily Seebohm (Australia) impressed in the heats, but could only finish seventh in the final. Teammate Madison Wilson (Australia) won her semi-final but could only finish last in the final. Instead, the bronze was shared by Fu Yuanhui (China) and Kylie Masse (Canada).

🥇Katinka Hosszú 🇭🇺

🥈Kathleen Baker 🇺🇸

🥉Fu Yuanhui 🇨🇳

🥉Kylie Masse 🇨🇦

Women’s 200m Backstroke

Maya DiRado (United States) shocked favourite Katinka Hosszú (Hungary) in her final race. The final was made to seem easier as Missy Franklin (United States), Emily Seebohm (Australia) and Anastasia Fesikova (Russia) missed out. Hilary Caldwell (Canada) beat Daria Ustinova (Russia) to bronze, whilst Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) finished sixth in her final Olympic race.

🥇Maya DiRado 🇺🇸

🥈Katinka Hosszú 🇭🇺

🥉Hilary Caldwell 🇨🇦

Women’s 100m Breaststroke

One of the most exciting battles in the Olympics came as Lily King (United States) beat Yuliya Efimova (Russia). The pair exchanged finger wags before the final, but King was imperious, setting an Olympic Record. In third was teammate Katie Meili (United States). Defending champion Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania) faded to only finish in seventh.

🥇Lily King 🇺🇸

🥈Yuliya Efimova 🇷🇺

🥉Katie Meili 🇺🇸

Women’s 200m Breaststroke

The two Americans, Molly Hannis (United States) and Lily King (United States), failed to make the final. Also missing out was Ippei Watanabe (Japan). Once again, Yuliya Efimova (Russia) was defeated into silver-medal position as Rie Kaneto (Japan) charged ahead. Chloe Tutton (Great Britain) was edged out of the bronze by Shi Jinglin (China). with Taylor McKeown (Australia) only just behind the pair despite an early lead.

🥇Rie Kaneto 🇯🇵

🥈Yuliya Efimova 🇷🇺

🥉Shi Jinglin 🇨🇳

Women’s 100m Butterfly

Sarah Sjöström (Sweden) was dominant, setting a World Record to win gold. Almost a full second behind her was Penny Oleksiak (Canada), who beat out Dana Vollmer (United States). Neither Kelsi Worrell (United States) nor Madeline Groves (Australia) made the final.

🥇Sarah Sjöström 🇸🇪

🥈Penny Oleksiak 🇨🇦

🥉Dana Vollmer 🇺🇸

Women’s 200m Butterfly

Mireia Belmonte (Spain) improved on her 2012 silver, edging out Madeline Groves (Australia) by only three-hundredths of a second. In third was Natsumi Hoshi (Japan), who swam on impressively in the second half of the race. Unluckily in fourth was Cammile Adams (United States), who barely missed out on a medal. Franziska Hentke (Germany) failed to qualify for the finals, while Katinka Hosszú (Hungary) pulled out to concentrate on the medley.

🥇Mireia Belmonte 🇪🇸

🥈Madeline Groves 🇦🇺

🥉Natsumi Hoshi 🇯🇵

Women’s 200m Individual Medley

Katinka Hosszú (Hungary) broke the Olympic Record twice on her way to winning the gold medal. The late-charging Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (Great Britain) could not catch Hosszú but instead took silver. In third was Maya DiRado (United States), who edged out Melanie Margalis (United States).

🥇Katinka Hosszú 🇭🇺

🥈Siobhan-Marie O’Connor 🇬🇧

🥉Maya DiRado 🇺🇸

Women’s 400m Individual Medley

Katinka Hosszú (Hungary) dominated this race, setting a huge new World Record. In second, Maya DiRado (United States) followed the world-record pace early but could not keep it up for the whole race. The big battle came for bronze, as Mireia Belmonte (Spain) defeated Hannah Miley (Great Britain) by only 0.15 seconds. Reigning champion Ye Shiwen (China) did not qualify for the final.

🥇Katinka Hosszú 🇭🇺

🥈Maya DiRado 🇺🇸

🥉Mireia Belmonte 🇪🇸

Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Australia set a sensational World Record, with two superb legs from the Campbell Sisters overturning the advantage held by the United States. Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden all had a swimmer go sub-53 seconds, but it was Canada who took the bronze, as all four swimmers went sub 54.

🥇Australia 🇦🇺

🥈United States of America 🇺🇸

🥉Canada 🇨🇦

Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay

It was an almighty battle with four nations leading at different stages. The race was won by an incredible Katie Ledecky final leg, who had an almost two-and-a-half second edge over Australia. Two poor legs from Sweden kept them off the podium, while China were only held off by a stunning final leg from Penny Oleksiak.

🥇United States of America

🥈Australia

🥉Canada

Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay

Canada got a brilliant start with Kylie Masse, but predictably, the United States were soon in control with a superb Lily King leg. Dana Vollmer and Simone Manuel both swum solid legs to clinch the gold. Canada, Russia, China and Denmark all led Australia with one leg remaining but Cate Campbell was the fastest of all to win the silver. A hundredth of a second behind her was Pernille Blume who won bronze.

🥇United States of America 🇺🇸

🥈Australia 🇦🇺

🥉Denmark 🇩🇰

Women’s Open Water 10km

A breakaway led by Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands) pulled away to take the victory. Controversy reigned though as Aurelie Muller (France) was disqualified when finishing second, for pushing Rachele Bruni (Italy) underwater at the finish. Promoted to bronze was home favourite Poliana Okimoto (Brazil)

🥇Sharon van Rouwendaal 🇳🇱

🥈Rachele Bruni 🇮🇹

🥉Poliana Okimoto 🇧🇷