Rio 2016 Olympic Preview: Campbells Look To Go 1-2 In Women’s 100 Free

As with the women’s 50m freestyle race predicted for this summer in Rio, the 100m freestyle looks to potentially have an American-less podium as well. With powerhouses such as the Campbell sisters from Australia and a dynamic duo from the Netherlands, there isn’t much room for anyone to slide into the final not holding at least a 53-low from semi’s.

In fact, the last time the United States saw a gold medalist in the women’s 100m freestyle was back in 1984 when Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer tied for the top prize. The last American to earn a medal of any color was Natalie Coughlin, who came away with Bronze in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Headed into Rio, Cate Campbell of Australia is on top of the world in this event, literally, as she cracked a shiny new world record in the Brisbane Grand Prix earlier this month. Running concurrent with the U.S. Olympic Trials, Cate’s admittedly unexpected 52.06 world record put the American sprinters’ times in perspective, as the top two Americans, Abbey Weitzeil and Simone Manuel, earned times in Omaha of 53.28 and 53.52, respectively. Although speedy in the midst of the stars n’ stripes field, only Weitzeil dipped into the world’s top 10 with her time checking in as the 8th-fastest.

Bronte Campbell (AUS) earns her 2nd World Championship title, this time in women's 50m free with 24.12 on Day 8 of 2015 FINA World Championships (courtesy of Tim Binning, theswimpictures.com)

Bronte Campbell (AUS) earns her 2nd World Championship title, this time in women’s 50m free with 24.12 on Day 8 of 2015 FINA World Championships (courtesy of Tim Binning, theswimpictures.com)

‘C1’, as Cate Campbell is often abbreviated, wound up 3rd in Kazan, touching in 52.82 to claim bronze at the 2015 World Championships. At that meet Bronte Campbell (‘C2’) upstaged her sister, doubling up on sprint world titles by winning both the 100m and 50m freestyle events. Bronte slammed down a 52.52 for the win in Russia, a mark which still sits 2nd in the world, only surpassed by C1’s World Record. The two sisters keep pushing each other to new heights and will look for a very possible 1-2 finish in both this event and the 50m freestyle at the Games.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo matches her own world record in the 50 free (photo: Mike Lewis)

Ranomi Kromowidjojo matches her own world record in the 50 free (photo: Mike Lewis)

Also lurking in the top tier of talent, however, are two Dutch teammates in Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Femke Heemskerk. For Kromowidjojo, the 25-year-old is the defending Olympic gold medalist in both this event, as well as the 50m freestyle, so big-stage experience is on her side. She also equaled her own 50m short course freestyle world record at last December’s Duel in the Pool (23.24), proving her fast-twitch muscles are still at the top of their game and ready to take on the field in Rio.

Although Heemskerk put up a 5th place time of 53.58 in Kazan, she has previously cranked up the heat by scoring a marks of 52.69 and 52.79 at the Eindhoven cup in April of last year. Those two outings represent her first venture into sub-53-second territory, not too shabby months out from an Olympic Games. For her to approach the podium in Rio, however, she’ll most certainly need to dip even further into the 52-second range to keep up with the likes of the aforementioned competitors, including teammate ‘Kromo’.

Sarah-Sjostrom - European Championships 2016, photo by Peter Sukenik / petersukenik.com

Sarah-Sjostrom – European Championships 2016, photo by Peter Sukenik / petersukenik.com

Current world record holder in the 50m and 100m butterfly events, Sarah Sjostrom from Sweden has proven on multiple occasions that she is a mighty force when it comes to sprint freestyle as well. Claiming the silver in Kazan in a time of 52.70, the Swede has registered 52-point times on 10 separate occasions throughout her career. Her quickest of the Rio-qualifying period 52.70 from Kazan sits just 2nd to her personal best of 52.67 scored in 2014. With the 100m freestyle event taking place on day 5, Sjostrom will have already competed in the 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle events, which may come into play in terms of fatigue when competing against fresh swimmers in the lanes next to her.

Also doubling up on the 100m and 200m free events is Italy’s ever-present Federica Pellegrini. The current world record holder in the 200m race, Pellegrini carries a new 100m free personal best of 53.18 she just clocked this summer in Rome, ranking 27-year-old 7th in the world. She has the honor of carrying her nation’s flag in the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and may be out to prove she can shine on the sport’s biggest stage, coming away medal-less in London after earning an individual silver in Athens and gold in Beijing.

Federica Pellegrini ancor's Italy's 4x200m freestyle relay to seed them fastest for tonight, (courtesy of Tim Binning, theswimpictures.com)

Federica Pellegrini, courtesy of Tim Binning, theswimpictures.com

On the other end of the age spectrum is teenager Penny Oleksiak from Canada. At just 15 years of age, Oleksiak crushed a new World Junior Record in the 100m freestyle event, stopping the clock at a remarkable time of 53.31 this past April.  That time broke China’s Shen Duo’s world junior record of 53.84 and took down Chantal Van Landeghem‘s Canadian record of 53.83. In the prime time age that can render significant time drops with each swim, Oleksiak is certainly one to watch in Rio and beyond.

 

 

 

Place Swimmer Country Best Time Since 2012 Olympics Predicted Time In Rio
1 Cate Campbell Australia 52.06* WR 51.9 * WR
2 Bronte Campbell Australia 52.52 52.3
3 Sarah Sjostrom Sweden 52.7 52.4
4 Ranomi Kromowidjojo Netherlands 53.14 52.6
5 Femke Heemskerk Netherlands 52.69 52.9
6 Federica Pellegrini Italy 53.18 53
7 Penny Oleksiak Canada 53.31* WJR 53.2
8 Abbey Weitzeil USA 53.28 53.2

Update: We originally had 3 Australians swimming in the final. It has been corrected.

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Nswim
4 years ago

Lol Simone isn’t even predicted to final here… look at how far we’ve come

Larry
7 years ago

Kromidjojo never been under 53, but at 25 years of age she is now suddenly going to hit 52.5! LOL

Admin
Reply to  Larry
7 years ago

Kromowidjojo’s lifetime best in the 100 free is 52.75.

Larry
Reply to  Braden Keith
7 years ago

i was talking about a more recent lifetime. she’s not getting anywhere near 52.5

Larry
Reply to  Larry
7 years ago

bye bye

Daza
7 years ago

C1 WR 51:89
C2 52:2
Heemskirk 52 : 4

Irviner
7 years ago

Interesting to think that Abbey Weitzeil’s 53.28 would’ve won the silver in the 2012 final. However this year, if she only repeats that time in semis, she could be in danger of missing finals.
It’s amazing to watch the progression in speed in swimming.

Tong Wu
7 years ago

They could go 1-1 too.

thomaslurzfan
7 years ago

Cate will win the gold, Sjöstrom. Bronte and maybe Ranomi for silver and bronze. Other 4 spots in the final should be between Pellegrini, Weitzeil, Manuel, Oleksiak, Coleman, Ottesen, Heemskerk, Herasimenia and maybe some chinese girl. I am pretty sure that Oleksiak and Herasimenia will make the final and that Heemskerk will finish worse than 5th.

Joe
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
7 years ago

Agree about Herasimenia, I saw her swim in Stockholm and she looked on the right track. She’s a championship swimmer. Ottesen doing 100 would surprise me, but I haven’t seen her schedule. She has better chances coming in the 50 free and medley relay.

If I had to pick the entire final field:
Campbell
Campbell
Sjostrom
Kromowidjojo
Herasimenia
Heemskerk
Oleksiak
Pellegrini (Manuel if Pellegrini isn’t swimming)

Weitzeil I think will regress slightly from the trials, Coleman I don’t think have the speed to drop further time, but she will be a player in the 200.

I see the final field as two tiers, four swimmers likely to go sub 53,… Read more »

tm71
7 years ago

My picks
C Campbell
Sjostrom
Kromo

M Palota
7 years ago

1.) Cate Campbell
2.) Bronte Campbell
3.) Sarah Sjostrom

Penny Oleksiak will, I think be a significant factor. She really is an enormous talent. I’m not entirely sure she’ll be under 53 – which what I think will be needed to get on the podium – but I’d be surprised if she wasn’t around 53-flat.

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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