Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 50 metre freestyle

{{Cleanup section|reason=This section is editorialised. It uses peacock terms which are not in-keeping with a neutral, encyclopedic tone.|date=April 2025}}

Australia's Emma McKeon surged in the last 15 m of the race to win gold in an Olympic record time of 23.81, having also bettered the mark in the heats and semi-final. With her sixth medal at these Games, McKeon became the most decorated Australian Olympian at a single Games.

Following elbow surgery in February, Sweden's Sarah Sjöström achieved her first podium finish at these Games with the world-record holder clocking a 24.07 to win silver. The defending Olympic champion Pernille Blume (24.21) won the bronze medal, denying the 2012 Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo (24.30) a podium finish.

Poland’s Katarzyna Wasick and China's Wu Qingfeng came equal fifth in 24.32, while Australia's Cate Campbell (24.36) and the U.S.'s Abbey Weitzeil (24.41) rounded out the championship field.

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.

{{World Olympic Record

| world_athlete = {{flagathlete|Sarah Sjöström|SWE}}

| world_mark = 23.67

| world_place = Budapest, Hungary

| world_date = 29 July 2017

| world_ref = {{cite news|title=Swimming: Sjostrom breaks women's 50 meters freestyle world record|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swimming-world-50freestyle-record-idUSKBN1AE0N0|agency=Reuters|date=30 July 2017|accessdate=1 February 2020}}

| olympic_athlete = {{flagIOCathlete|Ranomi Kromowidjojo|NED|2012 Summer}}

| olympic_mark = 24.05

| olympic_place = London, United Kingdom

| olympic_date = 4 August 2012

| olympic_ref = {{cite news|last=Dillman|first=Lisa|title=London Olympics: Ranomi Kromowidjojo wins 50-meter freestyle|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-xpm-2012-aug-04-la-sp-on-london-olympics-50-freestyle-20120804-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=4 August 2012|access-date=12 July 2013}}{{cite news|title=Swimming: Kromowidjojo wins 50m freestyle gold|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oly-swim-sww50f-idUSBRE8730J820120804|agency=Reuters|date=4 August 2012|accessdate=12 July 2013}}

}}

The following records were established during the competition:

{{main|Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification}}

The Olympic Qualifying Time for the event is 24.77 seconds. Up to two swimmers per National Olympic Committee (NOC) can automatically qualify by swimming that time at an approved qualification event. The Olympic Selection Time is 25.51 seconds. Up to one swimmer per NOC meeting that time is eligible for selection, allocated by world ranking until the maximum quota for all swimming events is reached. NOCs without a female swimmer qualified in any event can also use their universality place.{{cite news|title=Tokyo 2020 – FINA Swimming Qualification System|url= https://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/general/final_-_2018-03-19_-_tokyo_2020_-_qualification_system_-_swimming_-_eng.pdf|work=Tokyo 2020|publisher=FINA|accessdate=29 January 2020}}

The competition consists of three rounds: heats, semifinals, and a final. The swimmers with the best 16 times in the heats advance to the semifinals. The swimmers with the best 8 times in the semifinals advance to the final. Swim-offs are used as necessary to break ties for advancement to the next round.{{cite web|title=FINA Swimming Rulebook, 2017–21|url=https://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/2017_2021_swimming_12092017_ok_0.pdf|website=FINA|accessdate=29 January 2020}}

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

The swimmers with the top 16 times, regardless of heat, advanced to the semifinals.{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW50MFR-------------HEAT--------.pdf |title=Heats results |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730133005/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW50MFR-------------HEAT--------.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The swimmers with the best 8 times, regardless of heat, advanced to the final.{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW50MFR-------------SFNL--------.pdf |title=Semifinals results |access-date=31 July 2021 |archive-date=19 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819064738/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW50MFR-------------SFNL--------.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW50MFR-------------FNL-000100--.pdf |title=Final results |access-date=1 August 2021 |archive-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801044825/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW50MFR-------------FNL-000100--.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 50 m Freestyle Women}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics - Women's 50 metre freestyle}}

Women's 00050 metre freestyle

Olympics

Category:Women's events at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:2021 in women's swimming