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
- Finals Live Recaps: Day 1
Day 1 of the Olympics did not see any big breakthroughs or surprise medalists, but each swim was important in its own right.
South Africa’s Erin Gallagher placed 13th in the prelims of the 100 fly in a time of 57.80. While her time was off her personal best and national record of 57.32, which she set in April of this year, it was fast enough to qualify her for her first-ever Olympic Semifinal. In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, Gallagher finished 25th in the 100 fly (59.69) and 26th in the 100 free (54.75).
In the semifinals, Gallagher was unable to improve her time. She finished 14th in a time of 57.90 and missed the opportunity to make her first individual final. However, while certainly not the accolade she was hoping for, her swim this evening now made her the owner of the fastest ten performances by a South African.
Top 10 South African Women’s LCM 100 Butterfly Performances All-Time
- 57.32 – Erin Gallagher, 2024 South African Nationals
- 57.59 – Erin Gallagher, 2024 World Championships Prelims
- 57.64 – Erin Gallagher, 2024 World University Games
- 57.67 – Erin Gallagher, 2019 South African Nationals
- 57.80 – Erin Gallagher, 2024 Olympics Prelims
- 57.83 – Erin Gallagher, 2024 World Championships
- 57.84 – Erin Gallagher, 2023 South African Nationals
- 57.90 – Erin Gallagher,2024 Olympic Semis
- 57.92 – Erin Gallagher, 2024 World Championships Semis
- 58.07 – Erin Gallagher, 2023 World University Games Semis
Other Continental News
- Tunisia Ahmed Jaouadi was just short of making the finals of the 400 freestyle. He finished 9th in a time of 3:46.19, less than half a second off of 8th place. In 2021, countryman Ahmed Hafnaoui won gold in the event out of lane 8.
- Also in the prelims was Ilias el Fallaki. The Moroccan swimmer placed 33rd in a time of 4:01.59. The 18-year-old is set to start school at NJIT, which is a D1 Mid-Major program that competes in the American East Conference.