What Were The Most Dominant Olympic Performances In Paris?

Courtesy: Dominique Hérailh

Looking at single-race performances, who were the most dominant Olympic champions in Paris? How do we answer this question objectively?

In breaking down which performances were most dominant, we’ve opted to use the World Aquatics Point Scoring system.

The two key determining factors in whether or not a performance was “dominant” are:

  • A high score in FINA/World Aquatics points
  • Large margin of victory over the runner-up

The scoring format: A swimmer’s total FINA points + the gap in points between them and the silver medalist.

Example: Katie Ledecky scored 962 FINA points in the women’s 800 free. The runner-up, Ariarne Titmus, scored 955. The total of the points retained is 962 + (962 – 955) =969

WOMEN’S RANKINGS

#5. Katie Ledecky, 1500 Freestyle –  1002

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Katie Ledecky 15:30.02 970 1002
Runner-up Anastasiia Kirpichnikova 15:40.35 938
Gap: 32

Although her time was 10 seconds slower than her world record, Katie Ledecky scored 970 points in the 1500 free, and earned an extra 32 after beating Anastasiia Kirpichnikova by another 10 seconds.

Number 4

4. Mollie O’Callaghan, 200 Freestyle – 1003

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Mollie O’Callaghan 1:53.27 989 1003
Runner-up Ariarne Titmus 1:53.81 975
Gap: 14

In a must-see battle between the world record holders in the 200 and 400 free, we saw a razor-thin finish between Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus, and although they were only separated by 14 points on the FINA table, O’Callaghan’s win still ranks so highly due to her 1:53.27 time scoring 989.

3. Kaylee McKeown, 100 backstroke – 1018

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Kaylee McKeown 57.33 1000 1018
Runner-up Regan Smith 57.66 982
Gap: 18

The world record holder and the reigning Olympic champion proved once again that she’s the best backstroker in the world. Kaylee McKeown’s time (57.33) matched the old world record she set in October 2023, hence the 1000 points awarded. Regan Smith finished 2nd, 33 one-hundredths back, with 982 points.

2. Sarah Sjostrom, 50 freestyle – 1019

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Sarah Sjostrom 23.71 987 1019
Runner-up Meg Harris 23.97 955
Gap: 32

With a time of 23.71, the 31-year-old Sarah Sjostrom was just one-tenth shy of her world record in the Olympic fianl. Leading from the early stages, she flew down the final 25 meters to open up a gap of 0.26 over Meg Harris.

1. Summer McIntosh, 400 IM – 1039

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Summer McIntosh 4:27.71 979 1039
Runner-up Katie Grimes 4:33.40 919
Gap: 60

Summer McIntosh doesn’t necessarily claim the #1 spot because of her time, which was three seconds behind her world record. It was the massive gap she had over runner-up Katie Grimes, who was nearly six seconds back.

In the following graph, we can see that McIntosh is the only one to be found in Quadrant 1 (High Performance + Large Gap).

Most of the other competitors are in Quadrant 4 (High Performance +  small gap) with the exception of Ledecky (1500) and Sjostrom (50), who are at the edge of Quadrant 1.

See the full rankings below:

MEN’S RANKINGS

5. Leon Marchand, 200 breast – 1013

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Leon Marchand 2:05.85 991 1013
Runner-up Zac Stubblety-Cook 2:06.79 969
Gap: 22

An Olympic record and a lead of almost one second over Zac Stubblety-Cook allowed Leon Marchand‘s 200 breast performance to rank 5th with 1013 points.

4. Bobby Finke, 1500 free – 1014

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Bobby Finke 14:30.67 1001 1014
Runner-up Gregorio Paltrinieri 14:34.55 988
Gap: 13

A world record and leading the race from start to finish showed the dominance Bobby Finke had over the rest of the field in the men’s 1500 free.

3. Leon Marchand, 200 IM – 1030

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Leon Marchand 1:54.06 998 1030
Runner-up Duncan Scott 1:55.31 966
Gap: 32

Coming within six one-hundredths of a second of Ryan Lochte’s historic world record, Marchand set a new Olympic record and scored 998 points in the 200 IM. The 1.25 second gap with Duncan Scott gives him an extra 32 points.

2. Leon Marchand, 400 IM – 1060

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Leon Marchand 4:02.95 994 1060
Runner-up Tomoyuki Matsushita 4:08.62 928
Gap: 66

With the second-fastest performance of all-time, Marchand dominated the 400 IM from start to finish. Tomoyuki Matsushita was the runner-up, almost six seconds behind the leader for a gap of 66 points.

1. Pan Zhanle, 100 freestyle – 1099

Swimmer Time FINA Points Total Score
Winner Pan Zhanle 46.4 1030 1099
Runner-up Kyle Chalmers 47.48 961
Gap: 69

In one of the most anticipated events of these Olympic Games, Pan’s race was a real feat. Not only did his time of 46.40 break the previous world record by 46 one-hundredths, but his dominance over the field was impressive.

He deserves, without a doubt, the top ranking.

The following graph highlights the two exceptional performances of Pan and Marchand, which are the only two to appear in Quadrant 1 (High performance + Large Gap). Compared to the women’s graph, there is a greater dispersion among men.

See the full rankings below:

In This Story

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GOATKeown
30 days ago

On another note, Kaylee just withdrew from World Champs. Still doing world cups

SwimStats
Reply to  GOATKeown
30 days ago

Hmm, wonder why.

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  SwimStats
30 days ago

it’s pretty clear if you read her ig post

Last edited 30 days ago by Emily Se-Bom Lee
Hswimmer
Reply to  Emily Se-Bom Lee
30 days ago

I guess not everyone has Instagram. Lol

SwimStats
Reply to  Emily Se-Bom Lee
30 days ago

And if I don’t waste my life on Instagram?

Samuel Huntington
Reply to  SwimStats
30 days ago

Then you are missing out on important swim news.

justaguy
Reply to  SwimStats
30 days ago

Theres a lot of room between “wasting your life on instagram” and “having an instagram” lol

Fast and Furious
30 days ago

Great article except the 200 free wasn’t a battle between the world record holders in the 200 and 400- Titmus has both records

Kurt Mills Hanson
30 days ago

For Pan to produce that performance in that event in that pool against that opposition on that stage under that scrutiny. It’s the swim of the century. 🦄

snailSpace
Reply to  Kurt Mills Hanson
30 days ago

The same odds that Aurora Borealis will show up at this time of year at this time of day at this part of the country localized entirely within your kitchen.

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  snailSpace
30 days ago

May I see it?

snailSpace
Reply to  Fraser Thorpe
30 days ago

No.

Andy Hardt
30 days ago

There’s a real elegance to this formula!

jeff
30 days ago

some standout past performances off the top of my head
2016 Olympics men’s 100 breast: Peaty had a total score of 1123
2016 Olympics women’s 800 free: Ledecky had a total score of 1085
2007 Worlds men’s 200 fly: Phelps had a score of 1127
1991 Euros women’s 200 back: Egerszegi had a score of 1158

jeff
Reply to  jeff
30 days ago

Ledecky also has a 1084 from her 2016 400 free, Sjostrom has a couple of like 1065s from her best 50 free and 50 fly at Worlds, Egerszegi has a 1060 flat from 1996 Olympics

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  jeff
30 days ago

Where are you able to get the scores from past events?

jeff
Reply to  Fraser Thorpe
29 days ago

just from doing the calculations, FINA score is (wr time/swim time)^3 * 1000 where the world record time is from the end of the previous year

LBSWIM
Reply to  jeff
30 days ago

Do Mary T Meagher in 200 fly at 1984 Olympics next!!

jeff
Reply to  LBSWIM
29 days ago

that one’s at a 1058 – huge margin of win, but the base score wasn’t as high because she already set the WR so fast in 1981

If she had never broken the WR before (so it stood 2:09.87 by Caulkins) and then swam that 2:06.90, it would’ve been a score of 1160

200 flyer
30 days ago

Nah, The two 400IMs are the winners in my book.

Troyy
30 days ago

More evidence for Pan Zhanle’s 100 free being the swim of the year 🧐

Robbos
Reply to  Troyy
30 days ago

How is anyone even questioning it? Amazing some people.

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  Robbos
30 days ago

finke’s nationality explains it

Last edited 30 days ago by Emily Se-Bom Lee
Robbos
Reply to  Emily Se-Bom Lee
30 days ago

Yes it’s funny for some the nationality can mean so much that they are blinded, I so wish Mckeown to be swimmer of the meet, but how do you compete with Summer.
Likewise, Timmus what a swimmer in the 400 free, but where will Summer be in 1 or 2 seasons, its’ scary, she’s only 17 years old. She could be WR holder in the 200IM, 400IM, 200FLy, 400Free & 800Free by next Olympics. Even the 200Free not beyond her.

NotHimAgain
Reply to  Robbos
30 days ago

Yes. Aren’t they just?

cheese
30 days ago

Why is McKeown’s former World Record used for FINA points in the 100 Back when Regan had already lowered it prior to the Olympic Games?

Troyy
Reply to  cheese
30 days ago

The base times for calculating FINA points are only updated at the end of each year.

JimSwim22
Reply to  cheese
30 days ago

And the article said she is the actual World Record holder instead of former record holder.