2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- When: Pool swimming: Saturday, July 24 – Sunday, August 1, 2021
- Open Water swimming: Wednesday, August 4 – Thursday, August 5, 2021
- Where: Olympic Aquatics Centre / Tokyo, Japan
- Heats: 7 PM / Semifinals & Finals: 10:30 AM (Local time)
- Full aquatics schedule
- SwimSwam Event Previews
- Entry Lists
- Live Results
- Day 7 Finals Heat Sheet
American swimmer Caeleb Dressel won his 3rd gold medal and broke his 1st World Record of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the men’s 100 fly final. His time of 49.45 broke his own World Record of 49.50 set at the 2019 World Championships. It also broke his own Olympic Record of 49.71 from the semi-final round.
Kristof Milak was 2nd in 49.68, setting a new European Record in the process. The old European Record belonged to Milorad Cavic, who was 2nd to Michael Phelps at the 2009 World Championship final in 49.95.
Milak is now the #2 performer of all-time in the event. Like Dressel, he also broke his own National record: the previous Hungarian Record was the 50.18 that he swam at May’s European Championships.
His time is the 4th best performance in history as well.
Both swimmers are now faster than Michael Phelps, the former World Record holder and the most-decorated swimmer in history.
All-Time Top Performers, Men’s 100 LCM Butterfly
- Caeleb Dressel, USA, 49.45 – Tokyo 2020 Olympics
- Kristof Milak, HUN, 49.68 – Tokyo 2020 Olympics
- Michael Phelps, USA, 49.82 – 2009 World Championships
- Milorad Cavic, Serbia, 49.95 – 2009 World Championships
- Joseph Schooling, Singapore, 50.39 – 2016 Olympics
All-Time Top Performances, Men’s 100 LCM Butterfly
- Caeleb Dressel, USA, 49.45 – Tokyo 2020 Olympics
- Caeleb Dressel, USA, 49.50 – 2019 World Championships (semis)
- Caeleb Dressel, USA, 49.66 – 2019 World Championships (final)
- Kristof Milak, HUN, 49.68 – Tokyo 2020 Olympics
- Caeleb Dressel, USA, 49.71 – Tokyo 2020 Olympics (semis)
That mark’s Dressel’s first personal best time of the meet where many swimmers have won races without bests.
Splits Comparisons:
| Caeleb Dressel | Caeleb Dressel | Kristof Milak | Kristof Milak | |
| New WR | Old WR | New ER | Old ER | |
| 50m | 23.00 | 22.83 | 23.65 | 23.58 |
| 100m | 26.45 | 26.67 | 26.03 | 26.60 |
| Final Time | 49.45 | 49.5 | 49.68 | 50.18 |
Dressel was out more conservatively, behind the World Record line at the turn, but his training paid off late as he came back fast.
The same was true of Milak, but even moreso. The man who won the 200 fly already in the meet had plenty on the finish, and very-nearly ran down Dressel’s sure lead, splitting 26.0 on the last 50 meters.
Dressel’s is the 2nd individual World Record and the 4th World Record overall in swimming so far at these Olympics.
- Australian Women Collect Olympic Gold With 3:29.69 4×100 Freestyle World Record
- Chinese Women Earn 4×200 Freestyle Victory in World Record Fashion
- Tatjana Schoenmaker Breaks the Ice With 2:18.95 Breast World Record
Here’s how that stacks up against prior Olympic Games:
World Record trends at recent Olympic Games:
- Tokyo 2020 – 2 (so far)
- Rio 2016 – 8
- London 2012 – 9
- Beijing 2008 – 24*
- Athens 2004 – 8
- Sydney 2000 – 14
*In 2008, special suits made partially of polyurethane were allowed, leading to a rush of World Records. This would continue through the end of 2009, when the suits were outlawed.
If there’s money (rewards) to be earned from each WR (idk if that’s the case—I thought it used to be/could be wrong) I suppose it’s almost better to not set the WR much faster. Gives more chances to break it again and again.
Sergey Bubka.
can’t wait for the “Dressel Dissect”
Milak’s upkick on his stroke is insane. By comparison, Dressel’s is practically non-existent on the actual stroke. Milak’s kick on his stoke looks like Dressel’s underwaters. Biggest advantages for Dressel are obviously his start and his Phelpsian ability to somehow get his hand on the wall first.
Dressel’s upkick is huge what are you talking about
Congrats to Caleb, deserved winner with his form particularly over the past 2 years. I can’t help but think Milak could have won that race, had he popped up earlier off the wall. He did a 200m style wall, and lost a lot of ground. His return 50 on the water was faster than CD, but today racing shows that skills and race craft make all the difference. I think race practice played a role. If Milak gets more 100m racing in, then he can improve a lot. Although think both swimmers can swim faster over the next few years if they want more.
… you have a point, but you are probably discounting the fact that he probably didn’t intend to max the swim, knowing that he still had the 50 free and the MMR. He swam an amazing session as he still got a WR!! (& btw, that lone downvote isn’t mine).
Michael Andrew and three 1st round picks
It has been proved that it is not easy to calculate the timing for the stroke approaching the wall and makes the right decision as seen in the following cases :
Not to mention in the regional meets like SEA Games I have seen, where Joseph Schooling beat my country hopeful in 100m final at Sea Games 2011.
Yakkity yak! Kris-tof Milak
The Hungarian Swimming Federation banned Milak from entering more races – despite qualifying with the fastest national time in almost every free event as well.
He was told to first deliver gold in the 200 fly, medal in the 100 and was promised that he can do whatever he wants afterwards…
He delivered on all of that so watch this space!
He has so much potential!
Congrats to Dressel! He’ll need a good race to keep pushing the WR!
Tbh it was smart. His 48s in 100free wasn’t gonna even final
Yeah sounds like it was more ‘focus on the event you dominate the world in and your second best event. We will move forward with the free stuff after.’
Once he starts training for it, I’m sure it’ll improve. He was talking about dropping the 200 fly altogether at some point once he achieved what he wanted and focusing on other events. While it’d make no sense (and that I’m sure he won’t be allowed!) he likes a challenge!
It was a very good decision to hold him back! He wouldn’t even make the final (yet) in other disciplines, but he said after finishing this Olimpics that he has surprises for the future! Can’t wait for them:)
Banning, wow, that’s a really strong action. I’d certainly love to see Milak in many more events other than butterfly. Even though his records in free cannot qualify him in the finals, once he puts more efforts in it, who knows. No wonder there is this tension between him and the management around. Everyone down the comments is cheering for Dressel but seriously I prefer Milak more. I hope to see him in other races.