100 metre freestyle

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The switch to mid-race in a 100 m freestyle. EK Zwemmen 2006 100m vrij mannen.jpg
The switch to mid-race in a 100 m freestyle.

The 100 metre freestyle is often considered to be the highlight (Blue Ribbon event) [1] of the sport of swimming, like 100 metres in the sport of Athletics, symbolizing the pinnacle of speed and athleticism in swimming competitions. [2]

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The first swimmer to break the one-minute barrier (long course) was Johnny Weissmuller, in 1922. [3] The current world records holders are Pan Zhanle who broke the record in Paris 2024 Olympics [4] and Sarah Sjöström (since 2017).

Australian Dawn Fraser won the event a record three times at the Olympics, and she is the only woman to win it more than once. Four men, American Duke Kahanamoku, Weissmuller, Russian Alexander Popov, and Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband won the event at the Olympics twice. Popov was also world champion (held since 1973) three times.

Men's champions

Olympic Games

EditionWinnerTimeNotes
Flag of Greece.svg Athens 1896 Flag of Hungary.svg  Alfréd Hajós  (HUN)1:22.2
Flag of France.svg Paris 1900 not held
Flag of the United States.svg St. Louis 1904 the race was 100 yards, not 100 meters
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London 1908 Flag of the United States.svg  Charles Daniels  (USA)1:05.6 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm 1912 Flag of the United States.svg  Duke Kahanamoku  (USA)1:03.4
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Antwerp 1920 Flag of the United States.svg  Duke Kahanamoku  (USA)1:01.4 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of France.svg Paris 1924 Flag of the United States.svg  Johnny Weissmuller  (USA)59.0 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam 1928 Flag of the United States.svg  Johnny Weissmuller  (USA)58.6 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles 1932 Flag of Japan.svg  Yasuji Miyazaki  (JPN)58.2 [5]
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Berlin 1936 Flag of Hungary.svg  Ferenc Csik  (HUN)57.6 [5]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London 1948 Flag of the United States.svg  Wally Ris  (USA)57.3 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki 1952 Flag of the United States.svg  Clarke Scholes  (USA)57.4 [5]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne 1956 Flag of Australia.svg  Jon Henricks  (AUS)55.4 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of Italy.svg Rome 1960 Flag of Australia.svg  John Devitt  (AUS)55.2 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo 1964 Flag of the United States.svg  Don Schollander  (USA)53.4 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico City 1968 Flag of Australia.svg  Mike Wenden  (AUS)52.2 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of Germany.svg Munich 1972 Flag of the United States.svg  Mark Spitz  (USA)51.22 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal 1976 Flag of the United States.svg  Jim Montgomery  (USA)49.99 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Moscow 1980 Flag of East Germany.svg  Jörg Woithe  (GDR)50.40
Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles 1984 Flag of the United States.svg  Rowdy Gaines  (USA)49.80 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of South Korea.svg Seoul 1988 Flag of the United States.svg  Matt Biondi  (USA)48.63 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona 1992 Olympic flag.svg  Alexander Popov  (EUN)49.02
Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta 1996 Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Popov  (RUS)48.74
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney 2000 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Pieter van den Hoogenband  (NED)48.30 [5]
Flag of Greece.svg Athens 2004 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Pieter van den Hoogenband  (NED)48.17
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing 2008 Flag of France.svg  Alain Bernard  (FRA)47.21 [5]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London 2012 Flag of the United States.svg  Nathan Adrian  (USA)47.52
Flag of Brazil.svg Rio de Janeiro 2016 Flag of Australia.svg  Kyle Chalmers  (AUS)47.58
Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo 2020 Flag of the United States.svg  Caeleb Dressel  (USA)47.02 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of France.svg Paris 2024 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Pan Zhanle  (CHN)46.40 Sport records icon WR.svg

World Championships

EditionWinnerTimeNotes
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Belgrade 1973 Flag of the United States.svg  Jim Montgomery  (USA)51.70 [6]
Flag of Colombia.svg Cali 1975 Flag of the United States.svg  Andy Coan  (USA)51.25 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Germany.svg Berlin 1978 Flag of the United States.svg  David McCagg  (USA)50.24 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Ecuador.svg Guayaquil 1982 Flag of East Germany.svg  Jörg Woithe  (GDR)50.18 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Spain.svg Madrid 1986 Flag of the United States.svg  Matt Biondi  (USA)48.94 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth 1991 Flag of the United States.svg  Matt Biondi  (USA)49.18
Flag of Italy.svg Roma 1994 Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Popov  (RUS)49.12
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth 1998 Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Popov  (RUS)48.93 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Japan.svg Fukuoka 2001 Flag of the United States.svg  Anthony Ervin  (USA)48.33 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona 2003 Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Popov  (RUS)48.42
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal 2005 Flag of Italy.svg  Filippo Magnini  (ITA)48.12 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne 2007 Flag of Italy.svg  Filippo Magnini  (ITA)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Brent Hayden  (CAN)
48.43
Flag of Italy.svg Rome 2009 Flag of Brazil.svg  César Cielo  (BRA)46.91 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shanghai 2011 Flag of Australia.svg  James Magnussen  (AUS)47.63
Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona 2013 Flag of Australia.svg  James Magnussen  (AUS)47.71
Flag of Russia.svg Kazan 2015 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ning Zetao  (CHN)47.84
Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest 2017 Flag of the United States.svg  Caeleb Dressel  (USA)47.17
Flag of South Korea.svg Gwanju 2019 Flag of the United States.svg  Caeleb Dressel  (USA)46.96
Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest 2022 Flag of Romania.svg  David Popovici  (ROU)47.58
Flag of Japan.svg Fukuoka 2023 Flag of Australia.svg  Kyle Chalmers  (AUS)47.15
Flag of Qatar.svg Doha 2024 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Pan Zhanle  (CHN)47.53
Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore 2025 Flag of Romania.svg  David Popovici  (ROU)46.51 Sport records icon CR.svg

Women's champions

Olympic Games

EditionWinnerTimeNotes
Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm 1912 Flag of Australia.svg  Fanny Durack  (AUS)1:22.2
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Antwerp 1920 US flag 48 stars.svg  Ethelda Bleibtrey  (USA)1:13.6 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of France.svg Paris 1924 US flag 48 stars.svg  Ethel Lackie  (USA)1:12.4
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam 1928 US flag 48 stars.svg  Albina Osipowich  (USA)1:11.0 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles 1932 US flag 48 stars.svg  Helene Madison  (USA)1:06.8 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Berlin 1936 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Rie Mastenbroek  (NED)1:05.9 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London 1948 Flag of Denmark.svg  Greta Andersen  (DEN)1:06.3
Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki 1952 Flag of Hungary (1949-1956).svg  Katalin Szöke  (HUN)1:06.8
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne 1956 Flag of Australia.svg  Dawn Fraser  (AUS)1:02.0 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of Italy.svg Rome 1960 Flag of Australia.svg  Dawn Fraser  (AUS)1:01.2 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo 1964 Flag of Australia.svg  Dawn Fraser  (AUS)59.5 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico City 1968 Flag of the United States.svg  Jan Henne  (USA)1:00.0
Flag of Germany.svg Munich 1972 Flag of the United States.svg  Sandra Neilson  (USA)58.59 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal 1976 Flag of East Germany.svg  Kornelia Ender  (GDR)55.65 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Moscow 1980 Flag of East Germany.svg  Barbara Krause  (GDR)54.79 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles 1984 Flag of the United States.svg  Nancy Hogshead  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Carrie Steinseifer  (USA)55.92
Flag of South Korea.svg Seoul 1988 Flag of East Germany.svg  Kristin Otto  (GDR)54.93
Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona 1992 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Zhuang Yong  (CHN)54.65 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta 1996 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Le Jingyi  (CHN)54.50
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney 2000 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Inge de Bruijn  (NED)53.83
Flag of Greece.svg Athens 2004 Flag of Australia.svg  Jodie Henry  (AUS)53.84
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing 2008 Flag of Germany.svg  Britta Steffen  (GER)53.12 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London 2012 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Ranomi Kromowidjojo  (NED)53.00 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of Brazil.svg Rio de Janeiro 2016 Flag of the United States.svg  Simone Manuel  (USA)Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Penny Oleksiak  (CAN)52.70
Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo 2020 Flag of Australia.svg  Emma McKeon  (AUS)51.96 Sport records icon OR.svg
Flag of France.svg Paris 2024 Flag of Sweden.svg  Sarah Sjöström  (SWE)52.16

World Championships

EditionWinnerTimeNotes
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Belgrade 1973 Flag of East Germany.svg  Kornelia Ender  (GDR)57.54 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of Colombia.svg Cali 1975 Flag of East Germany.svg  Kornelia Ender  (GDR)56.50 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Germany.svg Berlin 1978 Flag of East Germany.svg  Barbara Krause  (GDR)55.68 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Ecuador.svg Guayaquil 1982 Flag of East Germany.svg  Birgit Meineke  (GDR)55.79
Flag of Spain.svg Madrid 1986 Flag of East Germany.svg  Kristin Otto  (GDR)55.05 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth 1991 Flag of the United States.svg  Nicole Haislett  (USA)55.17
Flag of Italy.svg Roma 1994 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Le Jingyi  (CHN)54.01 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth 1998 Flag of the United States.svg  Jenny Thompson  (USA)54.95
Flag of Japan.svg Fukuoka 2001 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Inge de Bruijn  (NED)54.18
Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona 2003 Flag of Finland.svg  Hanna-Maria Seppälä  (FIN)54.37
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal 2005 Flag of Australia.svg  Jodie Henry  (AUS)54.18
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne 2007 Flag of Australia.svg  Libby Lenton  (AUS)53.40 Sport records icon CR.svg
Flag of Italy.svg Rome 2009 Flag of Germany.svg  Britta Steffen  (GER)52.07 Sport records icon WR.svg
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shanghai 2011 Flag of Belarus.svg  Aliaksandra Herasimenia  (BLR)53.45
Flag of Denmark.svg  Jeanette Ottesen  (DEN)
Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona 2013 Flag of Australia.svg  Cate Campbell  (AUS)52.34
Flag of Russia.svg Kazan 2015 Flag of Australia.svg  Bronte Campbell  (AUS)52.52
Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest 2017 Flag of the United States.svg  Simone Manuel  (USA)52.27
Flag of South Korea.svg Gwanju 2019 Flag of the United States.svg  Simone Manuel  (USA)52.04
Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest 2022 Flag of Australia.svg  Mollie O'Callaghan  (AUS)52.67
Flag of Japan.svg Fukuoka 2023 Flag of Australia.svg  Mollie O'Callaghan  (AUS)52.16
Flag of Qatar.svg Doha 2024 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Marrit Steenbergen  (NED)52.26

See also

References

  1. Balym, Todd (April 7, 2015). "James Magnussen fuming after finishing second to Cameron McEvoy in 100m freestyle event". The Courier-Mail . Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  2. Petru, Banias (2011). "Study on reduction of swimming speed in relation to age, in freestyle men events, in masters swimming". Procedia - Social and Behavioral Science. 1 (1): 2684–2688. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.170 .
  3. "Swimming World Record progression – Men 100 m freestyle" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 8 July 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2007.
  4. Ed, Mackey (2024). "Swimming: New world record as Pan Zhanle wins gold!". The New York Times .
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 The Olympic Record was broken in the previous round.
  6. The Championship's Record was broken in the previous round.