Paris Olympics, Day 1 Prelims: Zhang Yufei Leads Quick 100 Fly Prelims
The class of Olympic medal contenders runs pretty deep in the women’s 100 butterfly. Morning prelims at the La Defense Arena in Paris did little to separate them.
Zhang Yufei led the way in prelims with a time of 56.50 seconds, but seven swimmers at 57 seconds or under mean there are plenty of people who could emerge from this crucible with medals.
Zhang won the first of three circle-seeded heats ahead of Emma McKeon’s 56.79, which finished her fifth overall. The final heat produced three 56s, led by Japanese teen Mizuki Hirai in 56.71. She was .04 ahead of world record holder Gretchen Walsh.
- World record: Gretchen Walsh, USA, 55.18 (2024)
- Olympic record: Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden, 55.48 (2016)
- Tokyo Olympic champion: Maggie Mac Neil, Canada, 55.59
Zhang won the first circle-seeded heat, pulling away from McKeon over the last 25 meters. Torri Huske won the second heat in 56.72, just ahead of reigning champ Maggie Mac Neil in 57.00. The third 56 of the final heat was Angelina Kohler in 56.90.
“The 100 fly is one of the most competitive events and one a lot of people are looking forward to,” Mac Neil said. “I’m going to do my best and just have fun. I feel like that’s my goal of the Games.”
Walsh, for her part, was happy with her swim as an opener.
“It feels good,” she said. “I’m happy to have the first one out of the way. I was pretty nervous beforehand, so hopefully just leave the nerves in the pool there and get ready to come back faster tonight. It was pretty cool seeing the crowd. It was a surreal moment, but I’m happy that my meet has started, and it was a pretty good way to kick it off.”
It took a time of 58.08 seconds to get back to finals in Tokyo in 2021. This year’s cut fell at 57.90. Keanna MacInnes got that place, ahead of Lana Pudar’s 57.97.
