100 metres Butterfly, Men

The day before this final Caeleb Dressel had won gold in the 100 freestyle. As the 2019 World Champion he was also favored in the short butterfly, where he had broken Michael Phelps’s world record in the event by swimming 49.50. At the US Olympic Trials Dressel recorded the third fastest time ever with 49.76 and came into Tokyo with 7 of the top 10 times in the event.

Hungary’s Kristóf Milak, who was considered better in the 200 fly, was the only swimmer close to Dressel on time but still had never broken 50 seconds. Another challenger was France’s Mehdy Metella but he had had shoulder injuries and would not make the final.

In the prelims Dressel equalled Joseph Schooling’s Olympic record from Rio, leading the way with 50.39. He then bettered that in the semi-finals with a time of 49.71 as Milak qualified second with 50.31. The final saw Dressel out the fastest, splitting 23.00 with Milak and ROC swimmer Andrey Minakov 0.65 seconds back at the turn. Dressel slowed slightly coming in but still broke his own world record with a time of 49.45 as Milak closed quickly to finish in a European record 49.68, making him the second fastest performer ever. Behind them Minakov could not hold on as Swiss swimmer Noe Ponti took bronze.

For Dressel this was his second individual gold at Tokyo. He would later win the 50 freestyle, and help the United States win the men’s 4 x 100 free relay and the mixed medley relay to leave Tokyo with five gold medals.