2016 Rio Olympic Games: Day Two Finals Live Recap

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Swimming: August 6-13
• Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
• Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
• SwimSwam previews 
• Day 1 Schedule & Results
• Live Stream (NBC)

Heading into tonight’s finals there have been three world records and four gold medals distributed after an amazing first day of competition that sets the stakes high for tonight.

Four finals will be contested this evening along with four semifinals, with plenty of gold on the line and several world records up for grabs.

WORLD RECORD WATCH w100 FLY: The first of the four finals will be the women’s 100m butterfly where Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom has been on fire. She got even faster from prelims to semifinals, breaking the Olympic record in her last swim with a 55.84 performance. Tonight, she’ll be eyeing her first Olympic medal and her own world record with Dana Vollmer of the United States being one of the only possible swimmers to get in her way.

Following the 100 fly final, two semifinals will take place. China’s Sun Yang will look to advance to the finals in the 200m freestyle after failing to win the 400 last night. The women’s 100m breaststroke will take place after where American Lilly King will try to keep her number one ranking ahead of Yulia Efimova and world record holder Ruta Meilutyte.

WORLD RECORD WATCH m100 BREAST: The men’s 100m breaststroke could potentially bring another world record into the mix. Britain’s Adam Peaty bettered his own world mark in the heats, sporting a wicked fast 57.55. In the semifinals he was close to that with a 57.62. In finals, the race is all his is he can remain close to that time. Things will heat up for the race for the silver and bronze medals.

WORLD RECORD WATCH w400 FREE: In what could potentially be the third world record of the evening, Katie Ledecky of the United States will lead the charge in the women’s 400m freestyle. Ledecky swam what she described as the easiest sub 4-minute 400 free she’s ever done this morning and it just happened to be an Olympic record, and close to her world record. If what she says is true, tonight she could unleash an incredible world record, further challenging what was previously thought possible in this event.

The men’s and women’s 100m backstroke semifinals will take place following the women’s 400m freestyle. There’s a huge bundle of swimmers in the mix in the men’s event. As for the women, Kathleen Baker made a charge this morning and will likely be challenged tonight by some of her more experienced international competitors.

The final event of the night will be the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay. It looks to be a matchup between the Aussies, Americans, and the French.

WOMEN’S 100m BUTTERFLY FINAL

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 56.26 – Sarah Sjostrom – Sweden
World Record: 55.64 (2015)- Sarah Sjostrom – Sweden
JR World Record: (NEW) 56.73 – Penny Oleksiak – Canada
Olympic Record: 55.84 (2016) – Sarah Sjostrom – Sweden
2012 Olympic Champion: 55.98 – Dana Vollmer – USA

As expected, Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom absolutely dominated the field here in Rio in the 100m butterfly, moving to a body length lead by the finish in order to claim her first Olympic gold and smash her own world record.

At the touch, Sjostrom was a 55.48, beating every competitor besides 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak of Canada by over a full second. Oleksiak touched in for second in a new junior world record and Canadian national record.

Oleksiak’s 56.46 was enough to put her ahead of the previously defending Olympic champion Dana Vollmer who also managed to get on the podium. Vollmer was a 56.63 to take the bronze.

China’s Chen Xinyi and Lu Ying both just missed the podium, sporting times of 56.72 and 56.76 respectively.

Oleksiak’s medal makes her the first Canadian women to win an individual swimming medal in 20-years.

1. Sarah Sjostrom – Sweden – 55.48
2. Penny Oleksiak – Canada – 56.46
3. Dana Vollmer – USA – 56.63
4. Chen Xinyi – China – 56.72
5. Lu Ying – China – 56.76
6. Rikako Ikee – Japan – 56.86
7. Emma McKeon – Australia – 57.05
8. Jeanette Ottesen – Denmark – 57.17

MEN’S 200m FREESTYLE SEMIFINALS

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 1:45.75 – Sun Yang – China
World Record: 1:42.00 (2009) – Paul Biedermann – Germany
JR World Record: 1:47.10 – Maxime Rooney – USA
Olympic Record: 1:42.96 (2008) – Michael Phelps – USA
2012 Olympic Champion: 1:43.14 – Yannick Agnel – France

China’s Sun Yang was the only swimmer who was able to dip under 1:45 tonight in the 200m freestyle, making him the heavy favorite heading into tomorrow’s final. Yang dropped a 1:44.63 to claim the win in the second semifinal.

Japan’s Kosuke Hagino who won the 400m IM last night is in the hunt to win yet another medal after taking the second overall seed with a 1:45.45.

Hagino isn’t a lock for a medal in this event, and will have his work cut out for him if he wants to top some of his other competitors such as Conor Dwyer of the United States. Dwyer was a 1:45.55, just short of Hagino’s time, for third overall.

Aleksandr Krasnykh of Russia qualified fourth as did world record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany. Both swimmers put up equal times of 1:45.69.

Townley Haas was the second American to qualify, doing so in 1:45.92. He was just in front of South Africa’s Chad le Clos‘ time of 1:45.94.

Defending world champion James Guy just squeezed into the final with a 1:46.23.

1. Sun Yang – China – 1:44.63
2. Kosuke Hagino – Japan – 1:45.45
3. Conor Dwyer – USA – 1:45.55
4. Aleksandr Krasnykh – Russia -1:45.69
5. Paul Biedermann – Germany – 1:45.69
6. Townley Haas – USA – 1:45.92
7. Chad le Clos – South Africa – 1:45.94
8. James Guy – Britain – 1:46.23

WOMEN’S 100m BREASTSTROKE SEMIFINALS

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 1:05.78 – Lilly King – USA
World Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte – Lithuania
JR World Record: 1:05.39 – Ruta Meilutyte – Lithuania
Olympic Record: 1:05.17 (2008) – Leisel Jones – Australia
2012 Olympic Champion: 1:05.47 – Ruta Meilutyte – Lithuania

After watching Yulia Efimova throw up a ‘number one’ sign after winning the first semifinal of the women’s 100m, there was friction between her and American Lilly King.

King wagged her finger at the screen displaying Efimova, clearly disappointed in seeing Efimova, who has failed two doping tests over the last quad, throw up a fast time.

King dove in for the second semifinal and bettered Efimova’s 1:05.72 with a 1:05.70 to take the top seed heading into the final. Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte didn’t post anything spectacular, but was a 1:06.44 in order to take the fourth overall seed.

It appears as though anybody could get on the podium tomorrow night. King and Efimova are well ahead of the other competitors, however all the other swimmers are closely bunched with plenty of podium potential.

TOP 8

1. Lilly King – USA – 1:05.70
2. Yulia Efimova – Rusia – 1:05.72
3. Shi Jinglin – China – 1:06.31
4. Ruta Meilutyte – Lithuania – 1:06.44
5. Katie Meili – USA – 1:06.52
6. Alia Atkinson – Jamaica – 1:06.52
7. Hrafnhildur Luthersdottir – Iceland – 1:06.71
8. Rachel Nicol – Canada – 1:06.73

MEN’S 100m BREASTSTROKE FINAL

Start List: click here
2016 Top Seed: 57.92 – Adam Peaty – Britain
World Record: 57.55 (2016 – NEW) – Adam Peaty – Britain
JR World Record: 59.64 – Wing Lizhuo – China
Olympic Record: 57.55 (2016 – NEW) – Adam Peaty – Britain
2012 Olympic Champion: 58.46 – Cameron van der Burgh – South Africa

Great Britain’s Adam Peaty absolutely demolished what anyone in the world thought was possible in the 100m breaststroke. He didn’t just break his own world record, he didn’t just win Olympic gold, he changed everything anyone ever knew about the possibilities and limitations of this race.

Out under world record pace, Peaty came home strong with his trademark high stroke rate in order to record an absolutely unheard of new world record time of 57.13. That time is over a second faster than anyone has ever been in the history of swimming.

His time also gave him the largest margin of victory in this event ever, winning the race b an astonishing 1.56 seconds over South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh. Van der Burgh clocked in at 58.69

Third was Cody Miller of the United States in 58.87, the only other swimmer under 59-seconds.

There was an incredible 2.82 seconds gap between Peaty and eighth place Dmitriy Balandin of Kazakstan who broke 1:00 with a 59.95.

1. Adam Peaty – Britain – 57.13 WORLD RECORD
2. Cameron van der Burgh – South Africa – 58.69
3. Cody Miller – USA – 58.87
4. Kevin Cordes – USA – 59.22
5. Joao Gomes – Brazil – 59.31
6. Yasuhiro Koseki – Japan – 59.37
7. Felipe Franca – Brazil – 59.38
8. Dmitriy Balandin – Kazakstan – 59.95

WOMEN’S 400m FREESTYLE FINAL

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 3:58.98 – Katie Ledecky – USA
World Record: 3:58.37 (2014) – Katie Ledecky – USA
JR World Record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky – USA
Olympic Record: 3:58.71 (2016) – Katie Ledecky – USA
2012 Olympic Champion: 4:01.45 – Camille Muffat – France

Just like Adam Peaty in the race before, American Katie Ledecky redefined what’s possible in her respective event, taking close to two-seconds off her own world record in the 400m freestyle en route to her first Olympic gold in the event, and first gold of these games.

Ledecky was outstanding, reminiscent of a 2007-2008 Michael Phelps, beating the world record line by over a body length and finishing several body-lengths ahead of the second and so forth swimmers in the world.

At the touch Ledecky was a 3:56.46, breaking her 2014 record of 3:58.37. She won the race by almost five full seconds. Great Britain’s Jazz Carlin claimed the silver with a 4:01.23, winning a close battle with Leah Smith of the United States.

Smith earned the bronze with a 4:01.92.

1. Katie Ledecky – USA – 3:56.46
2. Jazz Carlin – Britain – 4:01.23
3. Leah Smith – USA – 4:01.92
4. Boglarka Kapas – Hungary – 4:02.37
5. Brittany MacLean – Canada – 4:04.69
6. Tamsin Cook  – Australia – 4:05.30
7. Jessica Ashwood – Australia – 4:05.68
8. Coralie Balmy – France – 4:06.98

MEN’S 100m BACKSTROKE SEMIFINALS

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 52.96 – Camille Lacourt – France
World Record: 51.94 (2009) – Aaron Peirsol – USA
JR World Record: 53.65 – Kliment Kolesnikov – Russia
Olympic Record: 52.16 (2012) – Matt Grevers – USA
2012 Olympic Champion: 52.16  – Matt Grevers – USA

Tomorrow’s 100m backstroke final is heating up to be one of the most competitive races of these games thus far.

Both Americans, Ryan Murphy and David Plummer, won their respective semifinals in order to take the top two spots for tomorrow nights. Both will have the middle lanes tomorrow, Murphy in four, Plummer in five.

Murphy was the faster of the two, sporting a 52.49 performance. Plummer was just one one-hundredth slower than Murphy clocking in at 52.50.

Defending world champion Mitch Larkin of Australia wasn’t far behind the two Yanks. Larkin will be looking to claim yet another gold for the Aussies tomorrow night after dropping a 52.70 this morning.

It’s not a garuntee that any of these men will finish within the top three, the field is ridiculously fast this time around. Camille Lacourt of France was a 52.72, Xu Jiayu of China was a 52.73 for a new Asian record, and Evgeny Rylov of Russia was a 52.84.

With six competitors sitting all within four-tenths of each other, tomorrow night’s final has the potential to be a dog fight right up until the touch.

TOP 8

1. Ryan Murphy – USA – 52.49
2. David Plummer – USA – 52.50
3. Mitchell Larkin – Australia – 52.70
4. Camille Lacourt – France – 52.72
5. Xu Jiayu – China – 52.73
6. Evgeny Rylov – Russia – 52.84
7. Ryosuke Irie – Japan – 53.21
8. Robert Glinta – Romania – 53.34

WOMEN’S 100m BACKSTROKE SEMIFINALS

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 58.84 – Kathleen Baker – USA
World Record: 58.12 (2009) – Gemma Spofforth – Britain
JR World Record: 59.37 – Minna Atherton – Australia
Olympic Record: 58.23 (2012)- Emily Seebohm – Australia
2012 Olympic Champion: 58.33 – Missy Franklin – USA

Kathleen Baker managed to top the field once again, doing so with the exact same time that she put up this morning. Her 58.84 performance allowed her the semifinal win, and lane four for tomorrow’s final.

She’ll be right next to Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu tomorrow night. Hosszu rocked a 58.94 to take second overall, one one-hundredths ahead of Fu Yuanhui of China.

Madison Wilson of Australia and Kylie Masse of Canada took the fourth and fifth seeds respectively.

Emily Seebohm of Australia, who going into this meet was the favorite to take home the gold, was a 59.32 for seventh overall, just squeaking into the final. American Olivia Smoliga snuck in with her, clocking in at 59.35.

TOP 8

1. Kathleen Baker – USA – 58.84
2. Katinka Hosszu – Hungary – 58.94
3. Fu Yuanhui – China – 58.95
4. Madison Wilson – Australia – 59.03
5. Kylie Masse – Canada – 59.06
6. Mie Nielsen – Denmark – 59.18
7. Emily Seebohm – Australia – 59.32
8. Olivia Smoliga – USA – 59.35

MEN’S 4x100m FREESTYLE RELAY FINAL

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 3:12.04 – Russia
World Record: 3:08.24 (2008) – USA
Olympic Record: 3:08.24 (2008) – USA
2012 Olympic Champion: 3:09.93 – France

The Americans finally were able to redeem themselves after losing the Olympic gold to the French at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Caeleb Dressel dove in for the States and got things started, not exactly leading, but putting them in the position they needed to be in the hunt for the gold. After Dressel, Michael Phelps dove in, and threw down a thunderous 47.12 split in order to put the Americans way out in front.

That split for Phelps is the fastest he’s ever been in his career, foreshadowing just how fast he could be this time around in his individual events.

Ryan Held kept things moving for the Yanks as he handed the reigns to Nathan Adrian. Adrian exploded on the final 50 to give the Americans the win in 3:09.92.

France was second in 3:10.53, Australia was third in 3:11.37

1. USA – 3:09.92
2. France – 3:10.53
3. Australia – 3:11.37
4. Russia – 3:11.64
5. Brazil – 3:13.21
6. Belgium – 3:13.57
7. Canada – 3:14.35
8. Japan – 3:14.48