Women's Swimming 200m Butterfly/Final
O'NEILL wins Australia First Gold
Susan O'NEILL (AUS), the number one ranked swimmer in this event, continued to dominate by capturing the gold in the 200m butterfly. Her gold was the first for Australia in swimming during the 1996 Olympics. O'NEILL edged out teammate Petria THOMAS (AUS) who collected silver at 2:09.82. Michelle SMITH (IRL) finished third at 2:09.91, a national record. SMITH was in her fourth final and was attempting to win her fourth gold medal. Jessica DEGLAU (CAN) also set a national record clocked at 2:11.40.
Final Results: Gold - Susan O'NEILL (AUS), 2:07.76; Silver - Petria THOMAS (AUS), 2:09.82; Bronze - Michelle SMITH (IRL), 2:09.91.
United States One-Two
The United States pocketed two more medals when Brad BRIDGEWATER and Tripp SCHWENK finished one and two in the 200m backstroke. BRIDGEWATER, favored entering the race did not disappoint, finishing with a personal best time of 1:59.54. SCHWENK, in perhaps his last chance to wear an Olympic medal at age 25, finished 0.45 seconds behind his teammate. BRIDGEWATER's time was the second fastest in Olympic history. SCHWENK's was third. Emanuele MERISI (ITA), who entered the race with the fastest time in 1996, was third at 1:59.18.
Final Results: Gold - Brad BRIDGEWATER (USA), 1:58.54; Silver - Tripp SCHWENK (USA), 1:58.99; Bronze - Emanuele MERISI (ITA), 1:59.18.
"It's a best time," stated BRIDGEWATER. "It couldn't have happened at a better time. I can't put the feelings into words."
VAN DYKEN Upsets LE
The fastest field in the history of swimming assembled for the women's 50m freestyle. The race featured a blistering pace as four national records were set and the top three positions were decided by 0.27 seconds. Amy VAN DYKEN (USA) upset the world record holder LE Jingyi (CHN) by a touch of a finger, 0.03 seconds. VAN DYKEN was clocked at 24.87 while LE finished at 24.90. VAN DYKEN set an Americas and national record in the process. Sandra VOLKER (GER) collected bronze at 25.14, also a national record. Leah MARTINDALE (BAR), 25.49 and Linda OLOFSSON (SWE), 25.63 finished fourth and fifth respectively setting national marks. VAN DYKEN rewrote the record books by becoming the first U.S. woman to win four gold medals in one Olympiad.
Final Results: Gold - Amy VAN DYKEN (USA), 24.87; Silver - LE Jingyi (CHN), 24.90; Bronze - Sandra VOLKER (GER), 25.14.
"It's really special," stated VAN DYKEN. "I dedicated this race last summer to my uncle Jim (DAHLEN) who had cancer. He has since passed on. He wanted to be here with me to watch this. I think he was. It was really special."
PERKINS Repeats
The world record holder (14:41.66), and defending gold medalist, Kieren PERKINS (AUS) let the world know that he is the greatest distance swimmer of all time. PERKINS entered the final with the eight fastest time (15:21.42) seeded in lane eight. His championship swim was clocked at 14:56.40, the third best performance in Olympic history. Australia also collected the silver when Daniel KOWALSKI finished second edging out Graeme SMITH (GBR) by just 0.05 seconds. KOWALSKI posted a 15:02.43 while SMITH swam a 15:02.48. SMITH's time was a national record as was Emiliano BREMBILLA (ITA), who finished fourth.
Final Results: Gold - Kieren PERKINS (AUS), 14:56.40; Silver - Daniel KOWALSKI (AUS), 15:02.43; Bronze - Graeme SMITH (GBR), 15:02.48.
"Winning the gold in Barcelona was one of the hardest things I've ever done," stated PERKINS. "Coming back and doing it tonight was the most difficult thing I could imagine"
United States Sets World Record
In the final swimming event of the 1996 Olympic Games, the United States foursome of Jeff ROUSE, Jeremy LINN, Mark HENDERSON and Gary HALL Jr. set a world record enroute to capturing gold. Their time was an incredible 3:34.84, shattering the old record of 3:36.93, set by the United States in 1988. The United States has dominated this event winning gold nine of the 10 times this race has been run. Finishing second was Russia (3:37.55) followed by Australia (3:39.56). Germany finished fourth, Japan fifth, Hungary sixth, Poland seventh and Israel eighth. The gold medal also completed a sweep for the United States in the relay events.
Final Results: Gold - USA, 3:34.84, WR; Silver - RUS, 3:37.55; Bronze - AUS, 3:39.56.
"I think that obviously this is the greatest relay that has ever swam," stated Jeremy LINN. "You couldn't ask for a better bunch of guys."
"It's one of the best feelings I've ever had," stated Jeff ROUSE. "It's fantastic! We knew we had a real good shot at breaking it. We've had a great week here and topping it off with that is just a great feeling."
Wide Open Final
A pair of USA and Italian swimmers will be considered slight favorites entering tonight's final. Brad BRIDGEWATER (USA) qualified with the fastest time of 1:59.04. Teammate Tripp SCHWENK finished just 0.54 seconds behind at 1:59.58. Mirko MAZZARI (ITA) was the only other qualifier to swim a sub-two minute time clocked at 1:59.95. Emanuele MERISI (ITA), the silver medalist in Barcelona swam a 2:00.01.
SMITH to Vie for Fourth Gold Medal
Michelle SMITH (IRL) has reached her fourth final. She has already won gold medals in the 400m freestyle and the 200m and 400m individual medleys. SMITH qualified with the second fastest time of the morning at 2:10.03. She will be chasing Susan O'NEILL (AUS), who has dominated this event the past two years. O'NEILL was 0.57 seconds ahead of SMITH in the qualifying heats, clocked at 2:09.46. It looks like the remainder of the field will be battling for bronze.
LE Leads Fastest Field in History
LE Jingyi (CHN), the world record holder (24.51) will be heavily favored to collect her second gold medal. She has already won the 100m freestyle and a bronze in the 200m individual medley. The fastest field in history will attempt to upset her. Only 0.74 seconds separates LE's time and the eighth fastest qualifier.
Opportunity to Sweep Relays
The United States has put themselves in a position to sweep the relay events. They enter tonight's final with the fastest qualifying time of 3:39.93. Hungary is second at 3:41.05, while Germany finished third clocked at 3:41.10. Both Poland and Israel set national records.
Return to the Olympic News Menu
Select another day:
Pre | July | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | August | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Post |
| The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July). |