It certainly didn’t seem like it would be Simone Manuel or Penny Oleksiak‘s moment in the limelight.
About five weeks before the 100 free final at the 2016 Olympic Games, the World Record in the event came down at the fingertips of Australian Cate Campbell. Though it was only by a hundredth, Campbell’s 52.06 in July at the Swimming Australia Grand Prix clipped German sprinter Britta Steffen‘s super-suit record of 52.07 from 2009, a huge pre-Olympics statement.
It was one of six sub-53 second performances by Campbell in the calendar year, and with her name on the WR, it was her race to lose.
And if she were to lose, it looked as though it would be at the hands of her younger sister, Bronte Campbell, who had blasted a 52.58 at the 2016 Australian Trials in April. She was the defending World Champion, too. The Australian sprint machine was roaring in 2016; had three entrants been allowed at the Olympics, Emma McKeon and her 52.80 from Australian Trials would’ve won the bronze medal in Rio with a repeat performance of that time.
And if not one of the Campbells, 2015 World Champs silver medalist Sarah Sjöström of Sweden was the upset pick; she had been under 53 twice in the months before Rio and hit a 52.70 to claim Worlds silver in 2015. In all of 2016 before the start of the Games, the United States’ Manuel and Canada’s Oleksiak didn’t have a single performance in the world’s top 20 between them.
Prelims in Rio told an expected story, as Cate Campbell hit a 52.78, the only woman to clear 53. Manuel jumped up to second at 53.32, with Oleksiak t-5th at 53.53. Campbell led the way into the semifinals, with Manuel and Oleksiak among nine 53’s behind her.
In the semifinals, Manuel edged Bronte Campbell in the first heat, nearing the 53-second threshold with a 53.11. Campbell took heat two in 52.71, but Oleksiak, smashing the World Junior Record and North American records in the process, was second at 52.72. Not only had the 16-year-old Oleksiak broken her own country’s record, but she had surpassed every American woman in history.
In the final, while it was clear that Campbell had some competition, she did own the world record at 52.06, over six-tenths ahead of anyone else in the field. And at the first wall, the Campbell sisters were zooming, Cate out in 24.77 and Bronte out in 25.04. Manuel turned at 25.24, with Oleksiak well back at 25.70.
As the women flipped and headed home, the Australians came back to the field as Manuel charged in line with them. Oleksiak, with a ton of pool to gain, made her move late but absolutely flew over the last 10 meters or so to the wall to sync with Manuel. At the touch, with a time of 52.70, the two set a new Olympic record and tied for the gold, both setting national records (Manuel the first American under 53). It was Sjöström who snagged bronze at 52.99 as Bronte Campbell faded to fourth (53.04) and Cate Campbell faded to sixth (53.24).
For Manuel, it was another monumental step, as she became the first-ever African American female swimmer to win an individual Olympic medal. For Oleksiak, it was a spot in Canadian history. Two of the most competitive swimmers in the sport, fittingly sharing a podium.
Watch the full race video here:
Oleksiak pretty much did a Sjöström (100m butterfly 2009 Rome)
To break the monotony, swimswam could create a series called Countdown to the Most Epic Swims in Olympic History into two categories: male athlete, female athlete
Oleksiak came back in a 27.00 😱
Put another Campbell on the barbie and watch ’em get cooked in the final.
I remember this so well! Penny and the Canadian ladies were crushing it (thanks Cody Miller haha), and it felt like anything was possible. Everyone knew that her back half was stellar, so even if she turned in 7th or 8th at the turn, I was at the edge of my seat just waiting to see what she could do. The gold medal was almost unreal and I still get goosebumps watching this video.
She’ll likely be considered an underdog next year (depending on how the year goes……), but another tie with Simone for gold would be epic!