The 100 metre freestyle is often considered to be the highlight (Blue Ribbon event)[1] of the sport of swimming, like 100 metres in the sport of Athletics, symbolizing the pinnacle of speed and athleticism in swimming competitions. [2]
The first swimmer to break the one-minute barrier (long course) was Johnny Weissmuller, in 1922.[3] The current world records holders are Pan Zhanle who broke the record in Paris 2024 Olympics [4] and Sarah Sjöström (since 2017).
Australian Dawn Fraser won the event a record three times at the Olympics, and she is the only woman to win it more than once. Four men, American Duke Kahanamoku, Weissmuller, Russian Alexander Popov, and Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband won the event at the Olympics twice. Popov was also world champion (held since 1973) three times.
- ^ Balym, Todd (April 7, 2015). "James Magnussen fuming after finishing second to Cameron McEvoy in 100m freestyle event". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ^ Petru, Banias (2011). "Study on reduction of swimming speed in relation to age, in freestyle men events, in masters swimming". Procedia, social and behavioral science. 1 (1): 238.
- ^ "Swimming World Record progression – Men 100 m freestyle" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 8 July 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2007.
- ^ Ed, Mackey (2024). "Swimming: New world record as Pan Zhanle wins gold!".