Olympic Games Snapshot: A Capsule Look At the Day Two Events in Tokyo; Katie Ledecky Opens Defenses
With the 2020ne Olympic Games less than a month away, Swimming World will run eight consecutive days of capsules that take a quick look at the events that will be held on a specific day in Tokyo. These capsules will provide a snapshot of the various events, including an historical snippet for each discipline.
Day Two
Women’s 100 Butterfly
World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden/2016) 55.48
2016 Olympic Champion: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) 55.48
Most Titles: United States (Six)
Biggest Victory Margin: 1.36 Seconds (Inge de Bruijn Over Martina Moravcoca – 2000)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Torri Huske (United States) 55.6
2. Zhang Yufei (China) 55.73
3. Emma McKeon (Australia) 55.93
4. Maggie MacNeil (Canada) 56.14
5. Claire Curzan (United States) 56.20
Historical Note: The victory of Kristin Otto at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul was one of six for the East German, who holds the record for most titles by a female swimmer at a single Games. However, documents revealed after the fall of the Berlin Wall indicate Otto was part of East Germany’s systematic-doping program.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
World Record: Adam Peaty (Great Britain/2019) 56.88
2016 Olympic Champion: Adam Peaty (Great Britain) 57.13
Most Titles: United States (Four)
Biggest Victory Margin: 1.56 Seconds (Adam Peaty Over Cameron van der Burgh – 2016)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Adam Peaty (Great Britain) 57.39
2. Arno Kamminga (Netherlands) 57.90
3. Michael Andrew (United States) 58.14
4. Nicolo Martinenghi (Italy) 58.29
5. Ilya Shymanovich (Belarus) 58.46
Historical Note: Great Britain’s Adam Peaty is the overwhelming favorite to win gold in Tokyo. If he achieves that feat, he would join Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima (2004/2008) as the only men to repeat as Olympic champs in the event.
Women’s 400 Freestyle
World Record: Katie Ledecky (United States/2016) 3:56.46
2016 Olympic Champion: Katie Ledecky (United States) 3:56.46
Most Titles: United States (11)
Biggest Victory Margin: 15.0 Seconds (Martha Norelius Over Marie Braun – 1928)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Ariarne Titmus (Australia) 3:56.90
2. Katie Ledecky (United States) 3:59.25
3. Li Bingjie (China) 4:02.36
4. Tamsin Cook (Australia) 4:04.10
5. Anna Egorova (Russia) 4:04.10
Historical Note: When Debbie Meyer won the 400 freestyle at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, it accounted for a piece of her trifecta. Meyer also captured gold medals in the 200 freestyle and 800 freestyle.
Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay
World Record: United States (2008) 3:08.24
2016 Olympic Champion: United States (Dressel, Phelps, Held, Adrian) 3:09.92
Most Titles: United States (Nine)
Biggest Victory Margin: 4.0 Seconds (United States Over Germany – 1964)
Historical Note: The 400 freestyle relay made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Games, but it went on a two-Games hiatus in 1976 and 1980, before returning to the program in 1984.