Tom Shields Throws Down 43.8 100 Fly for New American, U.S. Open Record

2016 U.S. WINTER NATIONALS

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Tom Shields made history tonight, crushing the 100 fly field in a new American and U.S. Open Record time of 43.84. Shields is now the fastest 100 butterflier of all time, surpassing Olympic champion Joseph Schooling. At last season’s NCAAs, Schooling narrowly missed becoming the first man under 44 seconds with his 44.01, but Shields has now secured that title for himself. Shields had been sitting 6th on the all time top performers list coming into today with a 44.59 from 2013.

The previous American Record was a 44.18 done by Stanford’s Austin Staab in 2009. Before Shields broke the record tonight, Caeleb Dressel was the fastest American in textile with a 44.40 from 2016 NCAAs. In addition to the American and U.S. Open Records, Shields also broke his own Meet Record, which stood at a 44.88 from 2012 Winter Nationals.

All Time Top Performers Men’s 100 Fly:

  1. Tom Shields, USA, 43.84
  2. Joseph Schooling, SIN, 44.01
  3. Austin Staab, USA, 44.18
  4. Caeleb Dressel, 44.40
  5. Jack Conger, 44.55
  6. Albert Subirats, 44.57
  7. Tyler McGill, 44.63
  8. Ian Crocker, 44.72
  9. Giles Smith, 44.73
  10. Andrew Sansoucie, 44.86

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44.25
7 years ago

4th should be le clos at 44.25 yesterday

ayee
7 years ago

Chad Le Clos went a 44.25 in the 100 SCY Fly at some meet in the US, came back in a 23.46

Sarcastic
7 years ago

Roll on you Bears!!!!!!! Go Cal…..

Person
7 years ago

Tom! Well, I didn’t expect that. Amazing… so now Schooling has some motivation.

Observer of swimming
7 years ago

Schooling probably needed this motivation coming off his gold. He and dressel can both beat this mark eventually I think.

TAa
7 years ago

Dude is in beast mode st the moment. I do think he missed his taper this past summer

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  TAa
7 years ago

I think so too – he will be hungry at Short Course Worlds – I predict a solid win in the 100 fly

CROOKED HILLARY
Reply to  TAa
7 years ago

Please, he’s a much better short course swimmer than he is long course. Last summer he was prepared but just isn’t on that level in LCM.

PVSFree
Reply to  CROOKED HILLARY
7 years ago

His best is 51.0, that would’ve been good for silver in Rio.

Scott Morgan
Reply to  PVSFree
7 years ago

“Would’ve” lol

AvidSwimFan
7 years ago

This was fun to watch. Good for him. Wish him the best at Worlds SC championships.

Rjcid
7 years ago

Mic dropped

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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