WATCH: Tom Shields Swim Historic 43.8 100 Yard Butterfly

2016 U.S. WINTER NATIONALS

On night 3 of the 2016 U.S. Winter Nationals, U.S. Olympian Tom Shields made history with the first ever sub-44 time in the 100 yard butterfly. Shields crushed the field, winning the race in a new American and U.S. Open Record time of 43.84. With that swim, Shields is now the fastest 100 yard butterflier of all time, surpassing Singapore’s Olympic champion Joseph Schooling.

Check out the video of the race below, courtesy of USA Swimming’s YouTube channel.

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. Before Shields lowered the record tonight, the previous American Record was a 44.18 done by Stanford’s Austin Staab in 2009. He also took down his own Championship Record, which he’d set at 44.88 at the 2012 U.S. Winter Nationals.

In addition to his incredibly fast 100 fly, Shields also swam the fastest flat start 50 fly ever. Read more about that race here.

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Steve Friederang
7 years ago

My only compaint as a technical coach is how difficult it is to find splits for this and other short course races. Even USA Swimming doesn’t seem to post short course splits. Swimming World doesn’t include them in their records posted either. I’m trying to teach and design tools for the next generation to split well, set goals, etc. I encourage SwimSwam to post splits. Otherwise this is awesome. Thanks! 🙂

Bogi
7 years ago

I think it’s funny that Shields couldn’t get it done when it mattered. At the Olympics

Dave
Reply to  Bogi
7 years ago

SCY vs. LCM, my man.

Reply to  Bogi
7 years ago

2 minutes in and you can get a better idea of what went down… Just curious how your Olympic career panned out, throwing stones and all…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yeblVB3a5k

Pete Manieri
Reply to  Bogi
7 years ago

you are bogus……..bogi…….
a bully

Iceage Swimmer
7 years ago

Gonna be a great duel between Tom and Chad. Go Tom!!!

Pau Hana
7 years ago

Wonderful race. Highlighted by Rowdy’s spending the first half of the race talking about Matt Biondi and Cal swimming history.

THEO
Reply to  Pau Hana
7 years ago

it really is amazing that somehow he is still the go-to announcer in our sport

karl
Reply to  THEO
7 years ago

I am always impressed by rowdy gaines insight. He is extremely knowledgeable and intelligent. Don’t be so quick to throw him away.

completelyconquered
7 years ago

This record will stand until March and then the Olympic Champ will take it down.

Swimmerstudy
Reply to  completelyconquered
7 years ago

I hope so. But it seems like schooling is golfing and in Singapore more than in the pool if you look at his Instagram. But we’ll see I think jack is hungry for his own glory he’s already a 44.8 not tapered. So March will be fast.

Tom from Chicago
7 years ago

This race looked similar to Ryan Hofer’s 41+ 100 free with the dominant underwaters.

ayee
7 years ago

Chad Le Clos went 44.25 in the 100 SCY fly at some meet in the US today, right around the same time Shields did this. Came back in a 23.46. Its on his Instagram Story.

Person
Reply to  ayee
7 years ago

So… 0.4 slower than Tom? Looking forward to SC worlds

He Gets It Done Again
7 years ago

4-4-4-6

18 strokes

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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