Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's 100 metre freestyle

Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan won the event at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, and had the second fastest qualifying time of 52.08. The fastest qualifying time belonged to Hong Kong's Siobhán Haughey who swam a time of 52.08 at the 2023 World Aquatics World Cup. Haughey was also the silver medallist at the 2020 Olympics, 2023 World Championships and 2024 World Championships. The Netherlands' Marrit Steenbergen won the event at the 2024 World Championships with the fourth fastest qualifying time of 52.26. Other contenders included Sweden's Sarah Sjöström and Australia's Shayna Jack, who swam the third and fifth fastest qualifying times, respectively, in relays at the 2023 World Championships.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Yanyan |date=2024-07-15 |title=2024 Olympic Previews: Will The Aussie Women Go Back-To-Back In The 100 Free? |url=https://swimswam.com/2024-olympics-preview-will-the-aussie-women-go-back-to-back-in-the-100-free/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812014055/https://swimswam.com/2024-olympics-preview-will-the-aussie-women-go-back-to-back-in-the-100-free/ |archive-date=12 August 2024 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}} Sjöström initially planned not to swim the event, but changed her mind shortly before the event commenced.{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Claire |date=2024-02-08 |title=Sarah Sjöström Reveals That She Will NOT Swim The 100 free At Paris 2024 Olympics |url=https://swimswam.com/sarah-sjostrom-reveals-that-she-will-not-swim-the-100-free-at-paris-2024-olympics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207015710/https://swimswam.com/sarah-sjostrom-reveals-that-she-will-not-swim-the-100-free-at-paris-2024-olympics/ |archive-date=7 February 2025 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ransom |first=Ian |date=2024-07-31 |title=Swimming-Late bid for 100m freestyle proves a winner for Sjostrom |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/swimming-sjostrom-wins-womens-100-metres-freestyle-gold-2024-07-31/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Reuters}}

The qualifying times of the top five qualifiers—Haughey, O'Callaghan, Sjöström, Steenbergen and Jack—were separated by 0.26 seconds. Olympic champion Emma McKeon failed to qualify for the event.

Both SwimSwam and Swimming World predicted O'Callaghan would win gold. SwimSwam predicted Sjöström would come second and Haughey would come third, while Swimming World predicted Haughey would come second and Steenbergen would come third.{{Cite web |last=Rieder |first=David |date=2024-07-23 |title=Olympic Swimming Predictions, Day 5: 100 Freestyle Finals Bookend Busy Middle Night |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/olympic-swimming-predictions-day-5-100-freestyle-finals-bookend-busy-middle-night/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222182200/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/olympic-swimming-predictions-day-5-100-freestyle-finals-bookend-busy-middle-night/ |archive-date=22 December 2024 |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Swimming World |language=en-US}}

The event was held at Paris La Défense Arena, which was converted to a swimming pool for the swimming events.{{Cite web |last=Burgaud |first=Florian |date=2024-07-22 |title=From concert hall and rugby stadium to Olympic swimming pool arena in a matter of weeks, the metamorphosis of the Paris La Défense Arena is complete |url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/concert-hall-rugby-stadium-olympic-swimming-pool-arena-paris-la-defense |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804191900/https://olympics.com/en/news/concert-hall-rugby-stadium-olympic-swimming-pool-arena-paris-la-defense |archive-date=2024-08-04 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=olympics.com |publisher=International Olympic Committee (IOC)}}

{{Further information|Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Qualification}}Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) was permitted to enter a maximum of two qualified athletes in each individual event, but only if both of them had attained the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT).{{cite web |date=5 April 2022 |title=Paris 2024 – Swimming Info |url=https://www.fina.org/news/2563896/paris-2024-swimming-info |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208222726/https://www.fina.org/news/2563896/paris-2024-swimming-info |archive-date=2023-02-08 |access-date=12 November 2022 |publisher=World Aquatics}} For this event, the OQT was 53.61 seconds. World Aquatics then considered athletes qualifying through universality; NOCs were given one event entry for each gender, which could be used by any athlete regardless of qualification time, providing the spaces had not already been taken by athletes from that nation who had achieved the OQT.{{Cite |title=Entries list - Swimming |url=https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2024/07/12/64c5ea6d-ef1b-49fc-a9cf-445966773ae7/OG00459_Swimming_entries_10.07.24.xlsx |access-date=2024-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712132646/https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2024/07/12/64c5ea6d-ef1b-49fc-a9cf-445966773ae7/OG00459_Swimming_entries_10.07.24.xlsx |archive-date=2024-07-12 |url-status=live |publisher=World Aquatics}} Finally, the rest of the spaces were filled by athletes who had met the Olympic Consideration Time (OCT), which was 53.88 for this event. In total, 14 athletes qualified through achieving the OQT, 14 athletes qualified through universality places and one athlete qualified through achieving the OCT.

Four heats (preliminary rounds) took place on 30 July 2024, starting at 12:47.{{Efn|All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)}} The swimmers with the best 16 times in the heats advanced to the semifinals.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Olympic swimming rules: How can swimmers qualify for finals and win medals - format explained |url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/olympics-swimming-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821105532/https://olympics.com/en/news/olympics-swimming-rules |archive-date=2024-08-21 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=olympics.com |publisher=International Olympic Committee (IOC)}} Sjöström swam the fastest qualifying time of 52.99, while Haughey, Steenbergen, O'Callaghan and Jack also all qualified.{{Cite web |last=Penland |first=Spencer |date=2024-07-30 |title=2024 Paris Olympics: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap |url=https://swimswam.com/2024-paris-olympics-day-4-prelims-live-recap-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250115012943/https://swimswam.com/2024-paris-olympics-day-4-prelims-live-recap-2/ |archive-date=15 January 2025 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}} Kayla Sanchez of the Philippines swam a time of 53.67 to qualify in joint tenth and break her country's national record.{{Cite web |last=Alfonso Caramoan |first=Miguel |date=2024-07-30 |title=Philippines at the Olympics: Kayla Sanchez sets new national record, fails to advance |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/story/_/id/40680677/philippines-paris-olympics-kayla-sanchez-joanie-delgaco-kiyome-watanabe-nesthy-petecio-eumir-marcial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802060027/https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/story/_/id/40680677/philippines-paris-olympics-kayla-sanchez-joanie-delgaco-kiyome-watanabe-nesthy-petecio-eumir-marcial |archive-date=2 August 2024 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=ESPN |language=en}} Canada's Maggie Mac Neil qualified with the 16th fastest time, but withdrew from the event to focus on the relay events she was competing in.{{Cite web |last=Varley |first=Kristylee |date=2024-07-30 |title=Mac Neil bows out of 100 metre Freestyle in Paris |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/mac-neil-bows-out-of-100-metre-freestyle-in-paris/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328131122/https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/mac-neil-bows-out-of-100-metre-freestyle-in-paris/ |archive-date=2025-03-28 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=CTV News |language=en}}

Two semifinals took place on 30 July, starting at 21:33. The swimmers with the eight best times in the semifinals advanced to the final. Haughey won the first semifinal with the fastest qualifying time of 52.64, and Jack placed second to qualify with the second fastest time of 52.72. O'Callaghan won the second semifinal with the third fastest time of 52.75. China's Yang Junxuan qualified with the fourth fastest time, followed by Steenbergen, Sjöström, and then the US' Torri Huske and Gretchen Walsh.{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Mark |date=2024-07-30 |title=2024 Paris Olympics: Day 4 Finals Live Recap |url=https://swimswam.com/2024-paris-olympics-day-4-finals-live-recap/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217135446/https://swimswam.com/2024-paris-olympics-day-4-finals-live-recap/ |archive-date=2025-02-17 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}} Slovenian Neža Klančar swam a time of 53.96, which tied the national record but did not qualify her for the final.{{Cite web |title=Neza KLANCAR {{!}} Results {{!}} World Aquatics Official |url=https://www.worldaquatics.com/athletes/1020441/wd#main-content |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120102439/https://www.worldaquatics.com/athletes/1020441/wd#main-content |archive-date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=World Aquatics |language=en}}

{{external media|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4SsEFTz-ag Women's 100 metre freestyle final]|width=300px|float=right}}The final took place at 20:30 on 31 July. Sjöström swam what SwimSwam called a "balanced race" to win gold with a time of 52.16,{{Cite web |last=Penland |first=Spencer |date=2024-08-01 |title=2024 Paris Olympics: Day 5 Finals Live Recap |url=https://swimswam.com/2024-paris-olympics-day-5-finals-live-recap/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224160301/https://swimswam.com/2024-paris-olympics-day-5-finals-live-recap/ |archive-date=24 December 2024 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}} while Huske swam the fastest opening split and stayed ahead of everyone but Sjöström to win silver with 52.29. Haughey won bronze with 52.33—0.01 seconds ahead of O'Callaghan who finished fourth with 52.34. After the race, O'Callaghan said she "expected a lot more".{{Cite web |date=2024-07-31 |title=O'Callaghan, Jack miss medal in 100m final |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/story/_/id/40691566/olympics-paris-2024-mollie-ocallaghan-shayna-jack-miss-olympic-100m-freestyle-medals |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805172713/https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/story/_/id/40691566/olympics-paris-2024-mollie-ocallaghan-shayna-jack-miss-olympic-100m-freestyle-medals |archive-date=2024-08-05 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2024-07-31 |title='Really nervous': Mollie O'Callaghan reveals anxiety issue after being denied medal in 100m freestyle final |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-01/paris-olympic-games-mollie-o-callaghan-100m-final-result/104168008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001111945/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-01/paris-olympic-games-mollie-o-callaghan-100m-final-result/104168008 |archive-date=2024-10-01 |access-date=2025-03-28 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The Guardian called the final an "exceptionally close race".{{Cite news |last=Jeffery |first=Nicole |date=2024-08-12 |title=Australian swim duo stunned in 100m freestyle sprint upset at Paris Olympics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/01/paris-olympics-swimming-mollie-ocallaghan-shayna-jack-100m-freestyle-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812115312/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/01/paris-olympics-swimming-mollie-ocallaghan-shayna-jack-100m-freestyle-final |archive-date=2024-08-12 |access-date=2025-03-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

The gold was Sjöström's first Olympic medal in the event since 2016, when she won bronze at the Rio Olympics. This made her the first person to win medals in this event at non-consecutive Olympics,{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=Bradley |date=2024-07-31 |title=2024 Paris Olympics Day 5 Finals: Fun Facts |url=https://swimswam.com/2024-paris-olympics-day-5-finals-fun-facts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114182044/https://swimswam.com/2024-paris-olympics-day-5-finals-fun-facts/ |archive-date=14 January 2025 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}} and she was also more than four years older than the second-oldest competitor in the final. It was Huske and Haughey's second Olympic medal of the games. Haughey became the first swimmer to medal in both the 100 metre freestyle and 200 metre freestyle events at consecutive Olympics, and it was her fourth Olympic medal—the most ever won by an athlete from Hong Kong.{{Cite web |last=Ogura |first=Tatsuo |date=2024-08-04 |title=Siobhan Haughey makes homeland proud with record-breaking Olympic achievements |url=https://www.worldaquatics.com/news/4075515/siobhan-haughey-makes-homeland-proud-with-record-breaking-olympic-achievements |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805194416/https://www.worldaquatics.com/news/4075515/siobhan-haughey-makes-homeland-proud-with-record-breaking-olympic-achievements |archive-date=2024-08-05 |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=World Aquatics |language=en}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 100 m Freestyle Women}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre freestyle}}

Women's 00100 metre freestyle

Olympics

Category:Women's events at the 2024 Summer Olympics

Category:2024 in women's swimming