SwimSwam’s Top 5 Swims of the #Tokyo2020 Olympic Games: Day 5

2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

SEE DAY 1 TOP-5 HERE

SEE DAY 2 TOP-5 HERE

SEE DAY 3 TOP-5 HERE

SEE DAY 4 TOP-5 HERE

SWIMSWAM’S TOP 5 SWIMS OF THE 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES: DAY 5

#5 – M 800 Free: In a race of the ages, Greg Paltrinieri was out like a shot in lane 8, holding a solid lead through the first 600. However, the field began to catch him in the last 200, but it was Bobby Finke, who flipped 4th at the 750, who came home in 26.3 to pass 3 other competitors to win in an American record in 7:41.87

#4 – M 200 Breast: Zac Stubblety-Cook swam a similar race to Finke, biding his time throughout the first 150 and splitting 32.2 coming home to touch first at 2:06.38, the #3 performance ever and an Olympic record

#3 – W 200 Fly: Zhang Yufei was out like a shot, touching at 26.9 and 58.2. She didn’t slow down either, taking gold in 2:03.86, the fastest time we’ve seen in the event since 2009, when the super-suited world record was set

#2 – M 100 Free: The men’s 100 free delivered just as expected, with Caeleb Dressel going out fast and Kyle Chalmers coming home strong. In the end, Dressel held on for gold, his first individual Olympic title, in an Olympic record time of 47.02

#1 – W 4×200 Free Relay: This race was nuts. Australia put their big guns first and surprisingly China was able to hang with them, battling for first the first 600 meters while the US did a good job at lurking in 3rd. Then Katie Ledecky dove in, splitting a massive 1:53 to pass Australia and nearly China as well, but Li Jingjie held on for China and delivered them gold, with all 3 teams going under the previous world record and China ultimately owning it in 7:40.33

BELLY FLOP OF THE DAY: Australia 4×200 Free Relay

We feel guilty saying it because they were under the old world record, but there were so many situations where Australia wins this relay. The heavy favorite on paper, we thought this was a shoo-in for the Aussies, and leaving a 1:55.11 lead-off from prelims off of the finals relay coupled with Titmus adding a second from her individual left them vulnerable, and USA and China took full advantage

HOT TOPIC OF THE DAY: Men’s 200 IM Final – What the heck is going to Happen?

With big-time players Daiya Seto, Michael Andrew, Wang Shun and Duncan Scott looming, it is anyone’s race in the 200 IM final. We know Michael will be out fast at the 150, so ultimately it comes down to who can come home the strongest on the freestyle leg.

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Samesame
2 years ago

Zac !! What a race. What a win for a quiet achiever.

DanoCanuck
2 years ago

Despite the lack of world records during the olympics it’s still been an exciting meet. Watching the American and Aussie fans duke it out in the messages is also quit comical. Both countries have tremendous swimmers even though the US is quite a bit deeper.

Mustangswimdad
2 years ago

Favorite night of the Olympics so far. Definitely impressed by the Florida swimmers.

Finke for pres
2 years ago

Bobby Finke deserves top 2. That last 50 was a full send

There's no doubt that he's tightening up
Reply to  Finke for pres
2 years ago

I guess the other four swims get bumped up for being historically great times too, in addition to race drama.

CY~
2 years ago

Li Bingjie*

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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