Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 50 metre freestyle

{{Short description|none}}

{{Infobox Olympic event

|event = Men's 50 metre freestyle

|games = 2004 Summer

|image =

|caption =

|venue = Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre

|dates = August 19, 2004 (heats &
semifinals)
August 20, 2004 (final)

|competitors = 86

|nations = 78

|win_value = 21.93

|gold = Gary Hall Jr.

|goldNOC = USA

|silver = Duje Draganja

|silverNOC = CRO

|bronze = Roland Mark Schoeman

|bronzeNOC = RSA

|prev = 2000

|next = 2008}}

{{SwimmingAt2004SummerOlympics}}

The men's 50 metre freestyle event at the 2004 Summer Olympics was contested at the Olympic Aquatic Centre of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, Greece on August 19 and 20.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/swimming/schedule/3534120.stm |title=Swimming schedule |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2004|access-date=17 June 2007}}

United States' Gary Hall Jr. defended his Olympic title in the event in 21.93, just two hundredths of a second off the record set by Alexander Popov in 1992.{{cite news |url=http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20040821-121003-6306r.htm |title=Defiant Hall wins 50m free |author=Harris, Beth |work=Associated Press |publisher=Washington Times |date=21 August 2004|access-date=17 June 2007}} The silver medal was awarded to Croatia's Duje Draganja, who placed behind Hall in 21.94. South Africa's Roland Mark Schoeman completed his full set of medals by adding a bronze in 22.02.{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Stephen|title=Hall Does it Again, Repeats as 50 Free Champ|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7924.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=20 August 2004|access-date=19 April 2013}}

Defending bronze medalist Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands (22.56), and dual Olympic champion Alexander Popov of Russia (22.58) missed the semifinals.{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Stephen|title=Men’s 50 Freestyle Prelims Day 6: Hall Splashes a Hot 22.04, Fastest Qualifier; Lezak Makes This One but Popov, Hoogie Bow Out|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7897.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=19 August 2004|access-date=19 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204025/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/7897.asp|archive-date=29 October 2013}} By the following year, Popov announced his retirement from swimming, and became a full-time member of the International Olympic Committee.

Eleven first round heats were raced, comprising a total of 86 swimmers. The fastest 16 swimmers from this group qualified to move on to the semifinals stage.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/swimming/sport_guide/default.stm |title=Beginner's guide to swimming |date=15 April 2004 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=17 June 2007}} After the heats had been raced, the cut-off time was 22.53 seconds. The 16 swimmers who advanced then raced in two semifinals of eight swimmers each, the results being pooled and the fastest eight swimmers advancing to the final. The cut-off time to proceed into the final was 22.19 seconds.