Australian Cate Campbell set a new Olympic Record as she became the fastest qualifier into the semifinals of the women’s 100-meter freestyle.
Some of the swimmers joining Campbell in the semifinals include her sister Bronte, defending champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Sarah Sjostrom and Americans Abbey Weitzeil and Simone Manuel.
New ground for Campbell in the Olympics
The Australian, who is currently the world record holder for the event, missed out on a medal in London four years ago but showed just why she is the favorite for the event this time around.
Despite a slow start, Campbell was leading by the turn and went away from the field to record and Olympic record time of 52.78. Alongside her defending champion Kromowidjojo (whose Olympic Record was broken), Penny Oleksiak, Jeanette Ottesen, Chantal Van Landeghem and Pernille Blume all made it through from Heat 5; more than any of the other heats.
Another impressive swim was that of Manuel’s; her time of 53.32 was the second fastest of the heats. Behind her in Heat Four Aleksandra Gerasimenya, Etiene Medeiros of Brazil and Shen Duo (the last women to qualify) also made it through.
The second American through, Weitzel, impressed with a swim under 54 seconds though was beaten by Sjostrom, who came second in the 200-meter version. The Swede safely won the final heat in a time of 53.37, with Bronte Campbell, Charlotte Bonnett and Menghui Zhu joining her and Weitzel in the semifinals.
The earlier heats
No one in the first three heats made it through to the semifinals, though there were some notable moments.
Unlike many of the events, the first heat had the full eight swimmers, and the race was comfortably won by Ines Remersaro, whose winning time of 57.85 took over a second off her personal best. Also in this heat was Yusra Mardini of the Refugee Olympic team, who came seventh in a time of 1:04.66.
Susann Bjornsen also set a personal best, of 55.35, to take the second heat. The Norwegian finished ahead of Natthanan Junkrajang in second and Jasmine Alkhaldi in third.
A former Olympic and World finalist in the 200-meter freestyle, Veronika Popova struggles in this shorter distance but nevertheless won her heat in a time of 54.60, ahead of Maria Ugolkova in second place and Camille Cheng in third.