2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Swimming: August 6-13
- Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
- Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
- SwimSwam previews
- Schedule & Results
Although history was made in the women’s 100m freestyle race tonight in Rio, the nation of Australia wasn’t involved in that history. Instead of finishing 1-2 to become the first set of siblings to ever score gold-silver in the same event, current World Record Holder Cate Campbell and her double World Champion sister Bronte were denied medals entirely.
As American Simone Manuel and Canadian Penny Oleksiak celebrated tying for gold, Bronte was left with a 4th place position (53.04) and Cate faded all the way to 6th (53.24). Just yesterday evening, Cate made her Olympic Record-setting, top seed-snatching time of 52.71 look effortless, so tonight’s performance rendering her in the 53-second zone, was puzzling. This was also after the Commercial Swimming Club athlete already registered a brand new World Record in the event (52.06) at her final pre-Rio meet just last month.
But, that’s how the night seemed to go for Australia, as backstroking double World Champion Emily Seebohm failed to progress into the final of the women’s 200m event. This was after Seebohm, who many believed was the favorite to win the 100m backstroke event as well, wound up in 7th in that shorter event, registering a mark (59.19) she had beaten dozens of times over the past year.
Backstroker Mitch Larkin was able to secure a silver tonight in the men’s version of the 200m backstroke, so not all was gloom and doom for the green and gold. But, there’s no denying that at least one of the nation’s surest-looking medal opportunities went unfulfilled and there are not too many such opportunities left these Games.
Oceania Records as of Rio Day 5:
- AMERICAN SAMOA –
- Women’s 100m breaststroke: Evelina Afoa, 1:08.74, National Record
- AUSTRALIA –
- Women’s 100m freestyle: Cate Campbell, 52.71, Olympic Record
- Men’s 100m freestyle: Kyle Chalmers, 47.58, World Junior Record
Oceania Medal Table as of Rio Day 5:
| NATION | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE |
| Australia | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Can they regain confidence for the 50 freestyle ??
I don’t think the Aussies are the only ones who are shocked…
Cate false started by moving before the beep.
This is true, and was quite clear. I’m not sure how she was not DQ’ed. I even wonder if she thought so given how she finished.
There must be dual confirmation by the starter and deck referees. How they both didn’t see it, I don’t know. The beep was so quick too.
No one is ever going to be DQed in this Olympics.
Not from illegal moves, not from false entry times, not from PED.
This IOC/FINA-organised event, remember?