2024 Paris Olympics: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

• Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
  • Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
• La Défense Arena — Paris, France
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Full Swimming Schedule
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Pick ’em Contest
• How To Watch
• Entry Lists
• Live Results
• Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
• Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2

DAY 3 FINALS HEAT SHEET

Here we go: day 3 finals of the 2024 Olympics! Like this morning’s prelims session, tonight’s finals are a bit lighter, both in terms of the events swum and the time of the session. There will be 5 finals swum tonight and 1 semifinal, with the total time of the session projected to be less than 90 minutes.

DAY 3 FINALS SCHEDULE

• Women’s 400 IM – Final
• Men’s 200 Freestyle – Final
• Women’s 100 Backstroke – Semifinals
• Men’s 100 Backstroke – Final
• Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Final
• Women’s 200 Freestyle – Final

Tonight’s finals session should kick off with a bang, as Canadian teenage phenom Summer McIntosh will be up first in the women’s 400 IM. McIntosh has been dominant in this event over the past two years, having broken the World Record multiple times, most recently at the Canadian Trials this spring. Though she is seeded 3rd tonight, make no mistake, she’s far and away the favorite tonight.

Following McIntosh and company in the 400 IM, Romanian David Popovici will be looking to win his first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 200 free. Popovici, who is one of only a few men in history to have gone under 1:43 in the event, looked strong in semifinals last night, swimming the top time of 1:44.53.

China’s Xu Jiayu was the only swimmer who fared particularly well in the semifinals of the men’s 100 back last night, putting up a solid swim of 52.02. He was the only swimmer under 52.5 last night, but he has his work cut out for him, as this final of the men’s 100 back is extremely tough. World Record holder Thomas Ceccon and Olympic Champion Ryan Murphy are two names to keep a close eye on tonight as well.

American Lilly King will be looking to reclaim her Olympic crown in the women’s 100 breaststroke tonight after earning Bronze in the event back in Tokyo. King, the World Record holder in the event (1:04.13), came in 2nd in semifinals last night, swimming a 1:05.64. It was South Africa’s Tatjana Smith who clocked the top time, swimming a 1:05.00. Smith, formerly Tatjana Schoenmaker, earned the silver medal in this event back in Tokyo.

The night will conclude with the women’s 200 freestyle, which is sure to be a phenomenal race. The pair of Aussies in the race, Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan, are the two fastest swimmers in history in the event, with Titmus holding the World Record at 1:52.23. Titmus led semis last night in 1:54.64, while O’Callaghan was a hair behind in 1:54.70.

WOMEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY — FINALS

• World Record: 4:24.38 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024) 
• World Junior Record: 4:24.38 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024) 
• Olympic Record: 4:26.36 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2016)
• 2021 Olympic Champion: Yui Ohashi, JPN – 4:32.08
• 2021 Bronze Medal Time: 4:34.90

1. Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 4:27.71
2. Katie Grimes (USA) – 4:33.40
3. Emma Weyant (USA) – 4:34.93
4. Freya Colbert (GBR) – 4:35.67
5. Ella Ramsey (AUS) – 4:38.01
6. Mio Narita (JPN) – 4:38.83
7. Katie Shanahan (GBR) – 4:40.17
8. Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 4:40.70

The women’s 400 IM saw Summer McIntosh jump out the lead immediately and never look back. She was exceptional from start to finish, splitting 58.50 on fly, 1:07.09 on back, 1:19.36 on breast, and 1:02.76 on free, for a 4:27.71. While that time was well off McIntosh’s World Record of 4:24.38 from earlier this year, she still dominated this Olympic final by well over 5 seconds.

American Katie Grimes established herself as the silver medalist from the beginning as well, going out just behind McIntosh. Grimes was 59.85 on fly and 1:07.30 on back, which put her into the 200m turn jut 1.56 seconds behind McIntosh and nearly 5 seconds ahead of the next-closest swimmer. Breaststroke is Grimes weakness, however, but to her credit she clocked a 1:22.76 on that leg tonight, hanging firmly in the 2nd position. A 1:03.49 coming home plenty for her to seal the deal and win the silver medal.

Fellow American Emma Weyant was in a dogfight for basically the entire race, but managed to wind up on the podium. Weyant was 5th at the 200m turn, but a 1:18.59 on the breaststroke moved her into 4th, and the 1:02.20 free split was the fastest in the field tonight and enough for her to get her hand on the wall 3rd.

MEN’S 200-METER FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• Olympic Record: 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps, USA (2008)
• 2021 Winning Time: 1:44.22 – Tom Dean, GBR
• 2021 Bronze Medal Time: 1:44.66

1. David Popovici (ROU) – 1:44.72
2. Matt Richards (GBR) – 1:44.74
3. Luke Hobson (USA) – 1:44.79
4. Duncan Scott (GBR) – 1:44.87
5. Lukas Martens (GER) – 1:45.46 (TIE)
6. Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 1:45.46 (TIE)
7. Maximillian Giuliani (AUS) – 1:45.57
8. Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN) – 1:46.26

In a wild finish, Romania’s David Popovici got his hand on the wall first to win his first Olympic gold of his career. The youngster was well off his career best of 1:42.97, but it doesn’t matter, as he managed to pull out the win for himself and his country. He was out 2nd, splitting 24.10 on the opening 50m, then went 27.02 on the 2nd 50 before clocking 26.86 and 26.74 coming home.

American Luke Hobson looked like he had the win locked up, as he came off the final turn in the lead with a great breakout. However, Great Britain’s Matt Richards and Popovici both quickly evened things out, and the trio tore into the finish. Unable to tell who touched the wall first by the naked eye, the screen told us what we needed to know: Popovici 1st, Richards 2nd, Hobson 3rd, separated by just 0.07 seconds.

Fellow British swimmer Duncan Scott was also right there in the mix, taking 4th with a 1:44.87. Scott was sitting in 5th through the 150m turn but managed to turn it on coming home and pull into 4th.

Germany’s Lukas Martens was out with the lead, splitting a 50.52 on the opening 100m. He couldn’t hold on, however, and faded to 5th down the stretch.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE—SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 57.13 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith, USA (2019)
• Olympic Record: 57.47 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2021)
• 2021 Winning Time: 57.47 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS
• 2021 Time to Advance to Finals: 59.30

1. Regan Smith (USA) – 57.97
2. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 57.99
3. Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 58.27
4. Iona Anderson (AUS) – 58.63
5. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 58.82
6. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 59.10
7. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 59.29
8. Emma Terebo (FRA) – 59.50

American Regan Smith looked smooth and in control as she sped to victory in the 1st semifinals heat of the women’s 100 back tonight. She pulled far away from the heat on the 2nd 50 of the race, going from being in the lead by just 0.05 seconds at the turn, to winning the heat by 0.85 seconds. She was out in 28.19 and home in 29.78, which was good for a 57.97 and the X seed for tomorrow night’s final.

Smith and Australia Kaylee McKeown have been in a back-and-forth battle with the World Record for a few years. Smith currently holds the WR with a 57.13, a time she clocked at the US Olympic Trials last month.

McKeown would go in the 2nd heat of semis, which she would win in a tight race with American Katharine Berkoff. McKeown clocked a 57.99, just 0.02 seconds off Smith’s time from the 1st heat. Berkoff would be right behind, touching 2nd in that heat with a 58.27. Berkoff swam a 57.99 in prelims this morning, which means we have what should be an awesome final set up for tomorrow night.

Australia’s 2nd swimmer, Iona Anderson, was right in the mix in that 2nd heat as well, swimming a 58.63. She advanced as the 4th seed for tomorrow night with a very strong swim this evening. Canadian Kylie Masse, who formerly held the World Record in the event, came in 5th overall with a 58.82.

France managed to get both their swim. Beryl Gastaldello came in 7th with a 59.29, while Emma Terebo clocked a 59.50 for 8th.

MEN’S 100-METER BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
• World Junior Record: 52.34 – Miron Lifintsev, RUS (2024)
• Olympic Record: 51.85 – Ryan Murphy, USA (2016)
• 2021 Winning Time: 51.98 – Evgeny Rylov, ROC
• 2021 Bronze Medal Time: 52.19

1. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 52.00
2. Xu Jiayu (CHN) – 52.32
3. Ryan Murphy (USA) – 52.39
4. Apostolos Christou (GRE) – 52.41
5. Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 52.58
6. Hugo Gonzalez (ESP) – 52.73
7. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 52.77
8. Oliver Morgan (GBR) – 52.84

Following their gold medal performance in the men’s 100 breast last night, Italy managed to pick up another gold here tonight, as Thomas Ceccon claimed victory in the men’s 100 back. It was as tight of a race as expected, seeing the the whole heat bunched up practically from start to finish. Ceccon had the fastest 2nd 50 split in the field by far, roaring home in a stunning 26.90.

It was China’s Xu Jiayu who got out the fastest, splitting 24.88 on the opening 50m, which was the only 1st 50 under 25 seconds. He was the fastest in semifinals last night, where he clocked a 52.02 to earn the top seed for this race. He was off that time tonight, but he still earned the silver medal with a 52.32.

American Ryan Murphy earned the bronze medal with a 52.39. There was a moment where it looked like the veteran may be able to get it donw once again. He flipped in 2nd with a 25.04 at the turn, then came out with the best underwaters and breakout in the field. He had edged into the lead through the first half of the 2nd 50, however, the rest of the field closed on him at the end of the race. Murphy adds another medal to his career tally, however, the Americans have now lost the men’s 100 back for a 2nd Olympics in a row after dominating the event for years.

Greece’s Apostolos Christou clocked a 52.41, finishing just off the medal stand by 0.02 seconds.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Pieter Coetze clocked a new African Record with his swim of 52.58. He came in 5th tonight.

WOMEN’S 100-METER BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• World Junior Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
• Olympic Record: 1:04.82 – Tatjana Smith (Schoenmaker), RSA (2021)
• 2021 Winning Time: 1:04.95 – Lydia Jacoby, USA
• 2021 Bronze Medal Time: 1:05.54

1. Tatjana Smith (RSA) – 1:05.28
2. Tang Qianting (CHN) – 1:05.54
3. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 1:05.59
4. Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 1:05.60 (TIE)
5. Lilly King (USA) – 1:05.60 (TIE)
6. Angharad Evans (GBR) – 1:05.85
7. Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 1:06.50
8. Alina Zmushka (AIN) – 1:06.54

The women’s 100 breast final was just as tight as the men’s 100 back was leading into it. In the end, South Africa’s Tatjana Smith earned South Africa’s first gold medal of these Olympics, clocking a 1:05.28. The performance comes after Smith, formerly Tatjana Schoenmaker, earned silver in the event back in Tokyo. She put together a great race, splitting 30.62 on the opening 50m, then came home in 34.66, which is what earned her the win. Smith also holds the Olympic Record in this event with the 1:04.82 she clocked in semifinals in Tokyo 3 years ago.

In an unusual turn of events, it was American Lilly King who put up the fastest 2nd 50 in the field tonight. King, who is usually out very fast, turned in 7th at the 50m mark tonight with a 31.00. She then kicked it into overdrive, tearing home in 34.60. Unfortunately for the World Record holder, it was just barely not enough, and she would finish in a tie for 4th with Italy’s Benedetta Pilato. Both swimmers touched in 1:05.60, which was just 0.01 seconds off the medal stand.

China picked up their 2nd-straight silver medal tonight, as Tang Qianting finished 2nd with a 1:05.54. She was out fast, splitting 29.94 on the opening 50m, which was far and away the fastest split in the field. She then came home in 35.60, which was the 2nd-slowest split in the field, however, it didn’t matter, as she was able to hold on for silver.

Ireland grabbed the bronze tonight as Mona McSharry got her hands on the wall in 1:05.59. She touched out both Pilato and King by 0.01 seconds.

WOMEN’S 200-METER FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)
• World Junior Record: 1:53.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2023)
• Olympic Record: 1:53.50 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2021)
• 2021 Winning Time: 1:53.50 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS
• 2021 Bronze Medal Time: 1:54.70

1. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 1:53.27 (Olympic Record)
2. Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 1:53.81
3. Siobhan Haughey (HGK) – 1:54.55
4. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) – 1:55.29
5. Yang Junxuan (CHN) – 1:5.38
6. Barbora Semanova (CZE) – 1:55.47
7. Erika Fairweather (NZL) – 1:55.59
8. Claire Weinstein (USA) – 1:56.60

As expected, Australia went 1-2 in the women’s 200 freestyle tonight. Though in the end, Mollie O’Callaghan was the clear winner, there was a long stretch in the race where it didn’t seem like the Aussies might get it done. O’Callaghan played to her strengths, racing a more conservative style. She was out in 56.07 at the 100m turn, which was 5th in the field. She then moved into 3rd on the 3rd 50 with a 29.22 split before really turning it on and screaming home in a blistering 27.98. Her final 50 was the fastest in the field by well over half a second, propelling her to gold.

Teammate Ariarne Titmus swam a similar race to O’Callaghan, but just didn’t have quite the same closing speed. Titmus was out in 55.88 on the first 100m, which was 2nd, though just 0.19 seconds ahead of O’Callaghan. She then clocked a 29.29 on the 3rd 50, matching O’Callaghan’s split. The difference was that Titmus came home in 28.64, which was plenty fast for her to pull away from Siobhan Haughey, but not fast enough to beat out MOC.

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey was the reason the Aussie domination was in question for a minute there. The 26-year-old looked so strong through the 150m of the race. She was out in 55.70 on the opening 100, which was the fastest split in the field. She then clocked a 29.27 on the 3rd 50, going hand-in-hand with MOC and Titmus’ 29.2s. Haughey just couldn’t match the Aussies’ speed on the final 50, coming home in 29.58, which was still good for bronze. The performance marks Hong Kong’s first medal of these Olympics and only their 3rd swimming medal ever. Haughey has won all 3 of those medals.

Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey had an exceptional swim for 4th tonight, speeding to a 1:55.29. She’s been steadily improving for years now to the point where she is now on the cusp of an Olympic medal. She swam a very consistent race, splitting 27.49, 29.15, 29.41, and 29.24 respectively by 50.