Sarah Sjostrom: “I had doubts all the time” (Video)

^{Captured by D’Artagnan Dias.}

^{Produced by Coleman Hodges.}

^{Reported by Mitch Bowmile.} 

WOMEN’S 100M BUTTERFLY FINAL

Start List: click here
Top Seed: 56.26 – Sarah Sjostrom – Sweden
World Record: 55.64 (2015)- Sarah Sjostrom – Sweden
JR World Record: (NEW) 56.73 – Penny Oleksiak – Canada
Olympic Record: 55.84 (2016) – Sarah Sjostrom – Sweden
2012 Olympic Champion: 55.98 – Dana Vollmer – USA

As expected, Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom absolutely dominated the field here in Rio in the 100m butterfly, moving to a body length lead by the finish in order to claim her first Olympic gold and smash her own world record.

At the touch, Sjostrom was a 55.48, beating every competitor besides 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak of Canada by over a full second. Oleksiak touched in for second in a new junior world record and Canadian national record.

Oleksiak’s 56.46 was enough to put her ahead of the previously defending Olympic champion Dana Vollmer who also managed to get on the podium. Vollmer was a 56.63 to take the bronze.

China’s Chen Xinyi and Lu Ying both just missed the podium, sporting times of 56.72 and 56.76 respectively.

Oleksiak’s medal makes her the first Canadian women to win an individual swimming medal in 20-years.

1. Sarah Sjostrom – Sweden – 55.48
2. Penny Oleksiak – Canada – 56.46
3. Dana Vollmer – USA – 56.63
4. Chen Xinyi – China – 56.72
5. Lu Ying – China – 56.76
6. Rikako Ikee – Japan – 56.86
7. Emma McKeon – Australia – 57.05
8. Jeanette Ottesen – Denmark – 57.17