The Olympics That Would Have Been: Manuel’s 100 Free Magic Highlights Day 6

Following our “The Trials That Would Have Been” series, where we predicted how the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials would’ve played out had the event not been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, this week will feature a similar series for the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games.

Pool swimming was set to kick off on the evening of July 25 local time, with finals contested the following morning. Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of Eastern time, so finals were slated to run from 9:30-11:20 pm EST. For the purpose of this exercise, each session will be published on the corresponding day those finals would’ve happened in the United States.

This will be a day-by-day trip into the hypothetical, analyzing the events that would have happened, and how they might’ve played out. Forgive me as I try to reel in my imagination and keep the times *somewhat* realistic. Feel free to add your own predictions, picks, humorous quips and more in the comments below!

Day 6 marks the last relay-free day in Tokyo, with four sets of individual finals in the women’s 200 breast and 100 free, the men’s 200 back and 200 IM, and a pair of semis in the women’s 200 back and men’s 100 fly.

Among the headlines creating pre-session buzz are what will happen in the women’s 100 free, how Michael Andrew will fare in his first Olympic final, and pure excitement stemming from seeing Regan Smith and Caeleb Dressel race their best events. At the 2019 World Championships, both set the world record in each respective race in the semi-finals.

Day 6 Finals

Women’s 200m Breaststroke Final

Yuliya Efimova was all business as she entered the women’s 200 breast final looking to complete the ascension to gold after winning bronze in 2012 and silver in 2016.

Efimova backed up her status as the big favorite coming in with a dominant win, going out quicker than she has in recent years (1:07.76) before flying home for a final time of 2:19.49. The swim lowers the existing Olympic Record (2:19.59) by a tenth but narrowly misses her personal best time from 2013 (2:19.41).

Annie Lazor, who was the only swimmer other than Efimova to go sub-2:21 in 2019, backed up her semi-final PB with a time of 2:20.68, claiming silver for her first Olympic medal.

South African Tatjana Schoenmaker, who turned heads by winning the Commonwealth Games title in 2018 before placing second to Efimova last year, earns Africa’s first medal in the pool with a bronze in 2:21.71. Schoenmaker held off American Bethany Galat (2:21.95), while Kelsey Wog (2:22.08) set a new personal best in fifth. 

PODIUM

  1. Yuliya Efimova, RUS, 2:19.49
  2. Annie Lazor, USA, 2:20.68
  3. Tatjana Schoenmaker, RSA, 2:21.71

Men’s 200m Backstroke Final

Evgeny Rylov had been on fire since claiming bronze at the 2016 Games in the men’s 200 back, storming his way to back-to-back World Championship victories in 2017 and 2019 to go along with the European title in 2018. Ryan Murphy, who won Olympic gold in Rio, was the Russian’s main challenger having been the silver medalist at each of the last two World Championships.

China’s Xu Jiayu utilized his front-end speed and took the lead early, flipping at the 100 in 54.94 with Rylov (55.36) and Murphy (55.47) second and third. Rylov began to create some separation on the third 50, and then was the only swimmer in the field home sub-29 for a final time of 1:52.95. The swim lowers his own European Record of 1:53.36 and also goes under Tyler Clary‘s Olympic Record of 1:53.41.

Murphy lost most of his ground to Rylov on the last 50, coming in for a time of 1:53.75 and the silver medal. Mitch Larkin, who dropped the 200 IM in favor of this race, gains a full second on Xu on the last 50 to snatch bronze in 1:54.40, with the early leader fourth in 1:54.64.

PODIUM

  1. Evgeny Rylov, RUS, 1:52.95 OR
  2. Ryan Murphy, USA, 1:53.75
  3. Mitch Larkin, AUS, 1:54.43

Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final

In what marked the first Olympic final in the men’s 200 IM since 2000 that didn’t include Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte or Thiago Pereira, it seemed fitting that the race was relatively wide open for gold.

Daiya Seto was coming in with the hot hand after winning the 400 IM and as the reigning world champ, but there was no shortage of contenders who could give him a good run.

Just as we had seen in the heats and semis, it was American Michael Andrew jumping on the first 50, out in 23.96, and he followed with subsequent splits of 28.98 and 33.23 to hold the lead by seven-tenths with only freestyle left.

Seto gradually made up the deficit, closing in 28.34 to complete the medley sweep in a time of 1:55.23. Kosuke Hagino, the 2016 silver medalist behind Phelps, stormed home with the top free split (27.92) for silver in 1:55.71 to give Japan a 1-2 finish in both IMs.

Andrew gets himself home in 29-high for his first Olympic medal in 1:56.03, followed by teammate Chase Kalisz (1:56.33) and China’s Wang Shun (1:56.82).

PODIUM

  1. Daiya Seto, JPN, 1:55.23
  2. Kosuke Hagino, JPN, 1:55.71
  3. Michael Andrew, USA, 1:56.03

Women’s 100m Freestyle Final

If there’s anything we’ve learned from the 2016 Olympics, 2017 World Championships and 2019 World Championships, it’s that Simone Manuel can perform with the pressure on.

Cate Campbell entered Rio as the massive favorite in the women’s 100 freestyle after setting the world record earlier that summer, but it was Manuel and Canadian Penny Oleksiak who tied for the gold medal. In 2017, Sarah Sjostrom set a new world record leading off Sweden’s 4×100 free relay, but it was Manuel standing atop the podium in the individual race. In Gwangju it was the same story, as Manuel powered her way to another win out of lane one in an American Record of 52.04, leaving Campbell with silver and Sjostrom bronze.

After a monster swim at the U.S. Trials, Manuel came through in the clutch once again. Out in 24.93, the Stanford grad came home in 26.88 to establish the #2 swim of all-time in 51.81, successfully defending the Olympic crown in the event for the first time since Dawn Fraser in the 1960s.

Campbell sat second at the 50 in 25.01, followed by Sjostrom in 25.13, but neither could make up ground on Manuel coming back. The Australian edged out the silver medal in 52.17, while Sjostrom repeats as the bronze medalist in 52.26.

Cate’s sister Bronte Campbell put together a quick 52.57 to take fourth, with Canadians Oleksiak (52.67) and Taylor Ruck (52.88) fifth and sixth. Freya Anderson (52.98) and Mallory Comerford (53.18) rounded out the final.

PODIUM

  1. Simone Manuel, USA, 51.81 OR
  2. Cate Campbell, AUS, 52.17
  3. Sarah Sjostrom, SWE, 52.26

Also On The Schedule

Women’s 200m Backstroke Semi-Finals

After an otherworldly 2:02.8 swim at the Olympic TrialsRegan Smith didn’t need to do much more than put it in cruise control to advance out of the semi-finals of the women’s 200 back. That’s essentially what the 18-year-old did, especially coming off her 200 fly final the previous night, as she eases to the top time from the first heat in 2:04.93. Kathleen Baker finishes second (2:06.56) and Taylor Ruck (2:07.05) is third, promptly getting out of the pool and racing off to get ready for the 100 free final.

Italy’s Margherita Panziera edges out a tight win in semi 2 in 2:05.61 over Kaylee McKeown (2:06.09), Kylie Masse (2:06.27), Katinka Hosszu (2:06.74) and Minna Atherton (2:06.84).

Men’s 100m Butterfly Semi-Finals

After an absurdly easy looking 50.22 in the prelims, which broke the Olympic Record, Caeleb Dressel pops the #2 swim of all-time in the second semi of the men’s 100 fly, splitting 22.96/26.63 for a time of 49.59. He’ll be aiming for his world record of 49.50 in tomorrow’s final. Kristof Milak (50.75) and Shinnosuke Ishikawa (51.19) place second and third in the heat, with Vini Lanza fourth in 51.50.

In the first semi it was Chad Le Clos (50.83) putting together a very good swim to out-touch 2019 silver medalist Andrei Minakov (50.87). Maxime Rooney (51.25) and Marius Kusch (51.31) qualified sixth and seventh.

MEDAL TABLE THROUGH DAY 6

Gold Silver Bronze Total
USA 10 4 8 22
Australia 3 4 7 14
Japan 2 5 1 8
Canada 5 2 7
Russia 3 2 1 6
Hungary 3 1 4
Italy 1 2 1 4
Great Britain 1 2 3
China 1 2 3
Lithuania 2 2
Sweden 1 1 2
Belarus 1 1
Netherlands 1 1
Norway 1 1
South Africa 1 1

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Captain Ahab
3 years ago

It is my hope that Simone Manuel does not take a knee on the podium during the playing of the national anthem.

Corn Pop
Reply to  Captain Ahab
3 years ago

I hope she does & wears a Lion King outfit like the Dems on at Congress.. We want the Full Monty.

Gheko
3 years ago

Emma McKeon could win the 100! Kyle will win the mens!

Troyy
Reply to  Gheko
3 years ago

I liked her chances coming into Tokyo this year. Her trajectory was so promising but now I worry that she won’t be able to maintain that kind of momentum into 2021.

Brownish
3 years ago

Cseh can be in the 200IM final and Szebasztián Szabó will be in the 100fly semi.

Olympian
3 years ago

Let’s go Michael Andrew!!!!

commonwombat
3 years ago

W200BRS: Not willing to call this just going off 2019. Efimova has to be respected but her pacing is often a recipe for blood pressure pills. Just don’t know enough on Lazor to make a call. Respect Schoenmaker’s chances but this race is likely to have been cut-throat making the final and that’s how I see this podium playing out …… anything but clear cut.

M200BK: Happy to go with Rylov from Murphy but not buying Larkin on the podium. He most certainly has the capacity to be there but that would be a Larkin “with his act together”; someone we have scarcely seen in 4-5 years.

M200IM: No issues with Seto winning but this is another race where at… Read more »

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  commonwombat
3 years ago

USA Swimming Home (www.usaswimming.org)

https://www.usaswimming.org/times/data-hub/yearly-top-performers

Times
Yearly Top Performers
Record Tracking Type List: 2019 Top Performers
Gender: Women
Course: LCM
Event: 200 BR
Show Details

Samuel Huntington
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Why do you always share links like this?

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Samuel Huntington
3 years ago

Is it not constructive?

Corn Pop
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

No because Swim fans can rattle off times to the tenth from 20 years ago. Those on the x autistic / Aspberger
scale can go to the hundreds of a second . We don’t need no educaction…..No dark sarcasm I n the classroom …Teacher leave the kids alone.

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

I feel like you’re missing the point/tone of this series…

Drewbrewsbeer
3 years ago

USA dethroned from the 200 back after 6 straight Olympics….

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Drewbrewsbeer
3 years ago

While the U.S. women start a new tradition:

2012 – Franklin
2016 – DiRado
2020 – Smith

Dudeman
Reply to  Drewbrewsbeer
3 years ago

A little variety wouldn’t hurt lol

Lochte For The Win
3 years ago

Everyone is sleeping so hard on Ryan Lochte. Are you guys forgetting that he swam a 1:57 200 IM last year 30 pounds over weight? I say Lochte has a real chance at gold. He swims 1:55 high at trials to make the team and then goes 1:55 low to fight for gold in Tokyo. And yes my prediction is the same if the Olympics were this year.

Taa
Reply to  Lochte For The Win
3 years ago

And then he lost all 30lbs by photoshopping his abs on Instagram.

MTK
Reply to  Lochte For The Win
3 years ago

I can’t say that I’m totally confident in Lochte, BUT, if he’s on form, even at 36, he could challenge for the win.

Recency bias is taking over a bit too much here I think. Obviously people are rightfully expecting big things from Regan Smith, Caeleb Dressel etc, but swimmers that put up great results in 2017 or 2018, then had a down year in 2019 are being written off pre-maturely, it feels like.

Lochte For The Win
Reply to  MTK
3 years ago

Yeah that is true. Lochte has the world record too. He is also trying to make a huge comeback and show everyone that his mistakes in the past don’t define him. Based on what he’s said in recent months about his goals it’s pretty clear he wants gold in Tokyo. So I just hope he can end his career like that.

Brownish
Reply to  Lochte For The Win
3 years ago

With Cseh second 🙂

M d e
3 years ago

There is no way Catecomes second imo.

She either sorts herself out and wins it (unlikely unfortunately) or completely cooks it.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  M d e
3 years ago

Put another Campbell on the barbie and watch ’em get cooked in the final.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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