| | Event type

50 metres Freestyle, Women

Date	15 – 17 August 2008
Status	Olympic
Location	Beijing Guojia Youyong Zhongxin, Beijing Aolinpike Gongyuan, Beijing
Participants	90 from 82 countries

The shortest race on the women’s schedule is usually the most difficult to predict. The favourite appeared to be Libby Trickett of Australia who had won the 2007 World Championship and set the world record at the Australian trials but any of a dozen women could reasonably expect to challenge for the podium.

The 100 metre freestyle, held earlier in the week, changed the complexion of the race and the woman who won that race, Germany’s Britta Steffen was now considered the woman to beat. The eight women who reached the final were an eclectic mix which included [Cate Campbell] of Australia, a 16 year old making her Olympic debut, Dutch veteran Marleen Veldhuis and super-veteran Dara Torres of the USA. 41 year old Dara Torres, the oldest female swimmer ever to compete at the Olympics, was making her second comeback and competing in her 5th Olympics, 24 years after his debut. For much of the race it looked like the impossible was about to happen as Torres led the field but a mistimed finish cost the American dearly and Steffan added the 50 metre Olympic title to the 100 she had won previously. The German went on win the same races at the 2009 World Championships. Torres returned to retirement but in 2010 she announced she would attempt to win a place in the US team for the 2012 Olympics.

Pos	Competitor	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Britta Steffen	GER	24.90 (2 h12)	24.43 (1 h1)	24.06 (1)	Gold
2	Dara Torres	USA	24.58 (2 h10)	24.27 (1 h2)	24.07 (2)	Silver
3	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.20 (1 h10)	24.42 (2 h2)	24.17 (3)	Bronze
4	Libby Trickett	AUS	24.67 (1 h12)	24.47 (3 h1)	24.25 (4)
5	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	24.38 (1 h11)	24.46 (2 h1)	24.26 (5)
6	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	25.01 (5 h12)	24.63 (5 h1)	24.63 (6)
7	Hinkelien Schreuder	NED	25.00 (=5 h11)	24.52 (4 h1)	24.65 (7)
8	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	25.07 (4 h10)	24.72 (6 h1)	24.77 (8)
9	Zhu Yingwen	CHN	24.91 (3 h12)	24.76 (3 h2)	–
10	Fran Halsall	GBR	24.93 (3 h10)	24.80 (7 h1)	–
11	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	24.83 (2 h11)	24.86 (4 h2)	–
12	Malia Metella	FRA	24.95 (4 h12)	24.89 (8 h1)	–
13	Li Zhesi	CHN	25.00 (=5 h11)	24.90 (5 h2)	–
14	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	24.94 (3 h11)	24.96 (6 h2)	–
15	Arlene Semeco	VEN	24.98 (4 h11)	25.05 (7 h2)	–
16	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	25.06 (6 h12)	25.19 (8 h2)	–
17	Agata Korc	POL	25.14 (7 h12)	–	–
18	Céline Couderc	FRA	25.22 (7 h11)	–	–
19	Anya Gostomelsky	ISR	25.23 (1 h8)	–	–
20	Sviatlana Khokhlava	BLR	25.27 (8 h12)	–	–
21	Triin Aljand	EST	25.29 (1 h9)	–	–
=22	Anna-Karin Kammerling	SWE	25.34 (=5 h10)	–	–
=22	Flávia Delaroli	BRA	25.34 (=5 h10)	–	–
24	Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace	BAH	25.40 (2 h8)	–	–
25	Petra Dallmann	GER	25.43 (7 h10)	–	–
26	Lize-Mari Retief	RSA	25.44 (8 h11)	–	–
27	Martina Moravcová	SVK	25.47 (2 h9)	–	–
28	Anastasiya Aksenova	RUS	25.51 (3 h9)	–	–
29	Sandra Kazíková	CZE	25.54 (3 h8)	–	–
30	Victoria Poon	CAN	25.58 (4 h9)	–	–
31	Jang Hui-Jin	KOR	25.59 (5 h9)	–	–
32	Oksana Serikova	UKR	25.65 (6 h9)	–	–
33	Martha Matsa	GRE	25.68 (7 h9)	–	–
34	Cristina Chiuso	ITA	25.74 (8 h10)	–	–
35	Vanessa García	PUR	25.81 (8 h9)	–	–
36	Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir	ISL	25.82 (4 h8)	–	–
37	Natasha Moodie	JAM	25.95 (5 h8)	–	–
38	Carolina Colorado	COL	26.11 (1 h7)	–	–
=39	Rugilė Mileišytė	LTU	26.19 (1 h6)	–	–
=39	Sharntelle McLean	TTO	26.19 (2 h7)	–	–
41	Éva Dobár	HUN	26.33 (3 h7)	–	–
42	Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane	PNG	26.47 (2 h6)	–	–
43	Nina Sovinek	SLO	26.49 (4 h7)	–	–
=44	Yamilé Bahamonde	ECU	26.54 (3 h6)	–	–
=44	Elaine Chan	HKG	26.54 (5 h7)	–	–
46	Marina Mulyayeva	KAZ	26.57 (6 h7)	–	–
47	Christel Simms	PHI	26.64 (4 h6)	–	–
48	Leung Chii Lin	MAS	26.75 (6 h8)	–	–
49	Monika Babok	CRO	26.84 (7 h7)	–	–
50	Veronica Vdovicenco	MDA	26.92 (5 h6)	–	–
51	Sharon Fajardo	HON	27.19 (1 h5)	–	–
52	Ngozi Monu	NGR	27.39 (6 h6)	–	–
53	Ellen Hight	ZAM	27.42 (7 h6)	–	–
54	Chinyere Pigot	SUR	27.66 (2 h5)	–	–
55	Dalia Tórrez	NCA	27.81 (3 h5)	–	–
56	Razan Taha	JOR	27.82 (4 h5)	–	–
57	Marianela Quesada	CRC	28.11 (8 h6)	–	–
=58	Ximene Gomes	MOZ	28.15 (1 h4)	–	–
=58	Rovena Marku	ALB	28.15 (5 h5)	–	–
60	Tojohanitra Andriamanjatoarimanana	MAD	28.54 (6 h5)	–	–
61	Senele Dlamini	SWZ	28.70 (2 h4)	–	–
62	Virginia Farmer	ASA	28.82 (3 h4)	–	–
63	Diane Etiennette	MRI	28.83 (7 h5)	–	–
64	Katerine Moreno	BOL	29.05 (4 h4)	–	–
65	Ana Romero	ANG	29.06 (8 h5)	–	–
66	Olivia Nakitanda	UGA	29.38 (1 h3)	–	–
67	Dashtserengiin Saintsetseg	MGL	29.63 (5 h4)	–	–
68	Mariya Bugakova	UZB	29.73 (8 h7)	–	–
69	Kiran Khan	PAK	29.84 (6 h4)	–	–
70	Samantha Paxinos	BOT	29.91 (2 h3)	–	–
71	Amber Yobech	PLW	30.00 (3 h3)	–	–
72	Rouya Hussain	MDV	30.21 (7 h4)	–	–
73	Doli Akhtar	BAN	30.23 (8 h4)	–	–
74	Sameera Al-Bitar	BRN	30.32 (1 h1)	–	–
75	Julianne Kirchner	MHL	30.42 (4 h3)	–	–
76	Debra Daniel	FSM	30.61 (5 h3)	–	–
77	Magdalena Moshi	TAN	31.37 (6 h3)	–	–
78	Hem Thon Vitiny	CAM	31.41 (7 h3)	–	–
79	Zakia Nassar	PLE	31.97 (1 h2)	–	–
80	Katerina Izmaylova	TJK	32.09 (8 h3)	–	–
81	Karishma Karki	NEP	32.35 (2 h2)	–	–
82	Zahra Pinto	MAW	32.53 (3 h2)	–	–
83	Antoinette Guedia	CMR	33.59 (4 h2)	–	–
84	Vilayphone Vongphachanh	LAO	34.79 (5 h2)	–	–
85	Elisabeth Nikiema	BUR	34.98 (6 h2)	–	–
86	Elsie Uwamahoro	BDI	36.86 (7 h2)	–	–
87	Gloria Koussihouede	BEN	37.09 (2 h1)	–	–
88	Pamela Girimbabazi Rugabira	RWA	39.78 (3 h1)	–	–
89	Djene Barry	GUI	39.80 (4 h1)	–	–
90	Mariama Souley Bana	NIG	40.83 (8 h2)	–	–
DNS	Miroslava Najdanovski	SRB	– (DNS h8)	–	–
DNS	Bayan Jumah	SYR	– (DNS h8)	–	–

Round One

Date	15 August 2008
Format	Fastest 16 swimmers advanced to semi-finals

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.20	Q
2	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	24.38	Q
3	–	Dara Torres	USA	24.58	Q
4	–	Libby Trickett	AUS	24.67	Q
5	–	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	24.83	Q
6	–	Britta Steffen	GER	24.90	Q
7	–	Zhu Yingwen	CHN	24.91	Q
8	–	Fran Halsall	GBR	24.93	Q
9	–	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	24.94	Q
10	–	Malia Metella	FRA	24.95	Q
11	–	Arlene Semeco	VEN	24.98	Q
=12	–	Hinkelien Schreuder	NED	25.00	Q
=12	–	Li Zhesi	CHN	25.00	Q
14	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	25.01	Q
15	–	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	25.06	Q
16	–	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	25.07	Q
17	–	Agata Korc	POL	25.14
18	–	Céline Couderc	FRA	25.22
19	–	Anya Gostomelsky	ISR	25.23
20	–	Sviatlana Khokhlava	BLR	25.27
21	–	Triin Aljand	EST	25.29
=22	–	Anna-Karin Kammerling	SWE	25.34
=22	–	Flávia Delaroli	BRA	25.34
24	–	Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace	BAH	25.40
25	–	Petra Dallmann	GER	25.43
26	–	Lize-Mari Retief	RSA	25.44
27	–	Martina Moravcová	SVK	25.47
28	–	Anastasiya Aksenova	RUS	25.51
29	–	Sandra Kazíková	CZE	25.54
30	–	Victoria Poon	CAN	25.58
31	–	Jang Hui-Jin	KOR	25.59
32	–	Oksana Serikova	UKR	25.65
33	–	Martha Matsa	GRE	25.68
34	–	Cristina Chiuso	ITA	25.74
35	–	Vanessa García	PUR	25.81
36	–	Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir	ISL	25.82
37	–	Natasha Moodie	JAM	25.95
38	–	Carolina Colorado	COL	26.11
=39	–	Rugilė Mileišytė	LTU	26.19
=39	–	Sharntelle McLean	TTO	26.19
41	–	Éva Dobár	HUN	26.33
42	–	Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane	PNG	26.47
43	–	Nina Sovinek	SLO	26.49
=44	–	Yamilé Bahamonde	ECU	26.54
=44	–	Elaine Chan	HKG	26.54
46	–	Marina Mulyayeva	KAZ	26.57
47	–	Christel Simms	PHI	26.64
48	–	Leung Chii Lin	MAS	26.75
49	–	Monika Babok	CRO	26.84
50	–	Veronica Vdovicenco	MDA	26.92
51	–	Sharon Fajardo	HON	27.19
52	–	Ngozi Monu	NGR	27.39
53	–	Ellen Hight	ZAM	27.42
54	–	Chinyere Pigot	SUR	27.66
55	–	Dalia Tórrez	NCA	27.81
56	–	Razan Taha	JOR	27.82
57	–	Marianela Quesada	CRC	28.11
=58	–	Ximene Gomes	MOZ	28.15
=58	–	Rovena Marku	ALB	28.15
60	–	Tojohanitra Andriamanjatoarimanana	MAD	28.54
61	–	Senele Dlamini	SWZ	28.70
62	–	Virginia Farmer	ASA	28.82
63	–	Diane Etiennette	MRI	28.83
64	–	Katerine Moreno	BOL	29.05
65	–	Ana Romero	ANG	29.06
66	–	Olivia Nakitanda	UGA	29.38
67	–	Dashtserengiin Saintsetseg	MGL	29.63
68	–	Mariya Bugakova	UZB	29.73
69	–	Kiran Khan	PAK	29.84
70	–	Samantha Paxinos	BOT	29.91
71	–	Amber Yobech	PLW	30.00
72	–	Rouya Hussain	MDV	30.21
73	–	Doli Akhtar	BAN	30.23
74	–	Sameera Al-Bitar	BRN	30.32
75	–	Julianne Kirchner	MHL	30.42
76	–	Debra Daniel	FSM	30.61
77	–	Magdalena Moshi	TAN	31.37
78	–	Hem Thon Vitiny	CAM	31.41
79	–	Zakia Nassar	PLE	31.97
80	–	Katerina Izmaylova	TJK	32.09
81	–	Karishma Karki	NEP	32.35
82	–	Zahra Pinto	MAW	32.53
83	–	Antoinette Guedia	CMR	33.59
84	–	Vilayphone Vongphachanh	LAO	34.79
85	–	Elisabeth Nikiema	BUR	34.98
86	–	Elsie Uwamahoro	BDI	36.86
87	–	Gloria Koussihouede	BEN	37.09
88	–	Pamela Girimbabazi Rugabira	RWA	39.78
89	–	Djene Barry	GUI	39.80
90	–	Mariama Souley Bana	NIG	40.83
DNS	–	Miroslava Najdanovski	SRB	–
DNS	–	Bayan Jumah	SYR	–

Heat #1

Time	18:32

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Sameera Al-Bitar	BRN	30.32	0.73
2	–	Gloria Koussihouede	BEN	37.09	0.88
3	–	Pamela Girimbabazi Rugabira	RWA	39.78	0.85
4	–	Djene Barry	GUI	39.80	0.85

Heat #2

Time	18:35

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Zakia Nassar	PLE	31.97	0.93
2	–	Karishma Karki	NEP	32.35	0.98
3	–	Zahra Pinto	MAW	32.53	0.70
4	–	Antoinette Guedia	CMR	33.59	0.87
5	–	Vilayphone Vongphachanh	LAO	34.79	0.92
6	–	Elisabeth Nikiema	BUR	34.98	1.00
7	–	Elsie Uwamahoro	BDI	36.86	0.85
8	–	Mariama Souley Bana	NIG	40.83	0.89

Heat #3

Time	18:38

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Olivia Nakitanda	UGA	29.38	0.85
2	–	Samantha Paxinos	BOT	29.91	0.77
3	–	Amber Yobech	PLW	30.00	0.69
4	–	Julianne Kirchner	MHL	30.42	0.71
5	–	Debra Daniel	FSM	30.61	0.75
6	–	Magdalena Moshi	TAN	31.37	0.86
7	–	Hem Thon Vitiny	CAM	31.41	0.84
8	–	Katerina Izmaylova	TJK	32.09	0.89

Heat #4

Time	18:40

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Ximene Gomes	MOZ	28.15	0.72
2	–	Senele Dlamini	SWZ	28.70	0.65
3	–	Virginia Farmer	ASA	28.82	0.80
4	–	Katerine Moreno	BOL	29.05	0.84
5	–	Dashtserengiin Saintsetseg	MGL	29.63	0.78
6	–	Kiran Khan	PAK	29.84	0.89
7	–	Rouya Hussain	MDV	30.21	0.89
8	–	Doli Akhtar	BAN	30.23	0.75

Heat #5

Time	18:42

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Sharon Fajardo	HON	27.19	0.65
2	–	Chinyere Pigot	SUR	27.66	0.79
3	–	Dalia Tórrez	NCA	27.81	0.68
4	–	Razan Taha	JOR	27.82	0.84
5	–	Rovena Marku	ALB	28.15	0.61
6	–	Tojohanitra Andriamanjatoarimanana	MAD	28.54	0.76
7	–	Diane Etiennette	MRI	28.83	0.82
8	–	Ana Romero	ANG	29.06	0.66

Heat #6

Time	18:44

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Rugilė Mileišytė	LTU	26.19	0.68
2	–	Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane	PNG	26.47	0.75
3	–	Yamilé Bahamonde	ECU	26.54	0.67
4	–	Christel Simms	PHI	26.64	0.69
5	–	Veronica Vdovicenco	MDA	26.92	0.86
6	–	Ngozi Monu	NGR	27.39	0.80
7	–	Ellen Hight	ZAM	27.42	0.72
8	–	Marianela Quesada	CRC	28.11	0.72

Heat #7

Time	18:46

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Carolina Colorado	COL	26.11	0.72
2	–	Sharntelle McLean	TTO	26.19	0.77
3	–	Éva Dobár	HUN	26.33	0.76
4	–	Nina Sovinek	SLO	26.49	0.68
5	–	Elaine Chan	HKG	26.54	0.71
6	–	Marina Mulyayeva	KAZ	26.57	0.69
7	–	Monika Babok	CRO	26.84	0.70
8	–	Mariya Bugakova	UZB	29.73	0.91

Heat #8

Time	18:48

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Anya Gostomelsky	ISR	25.23	0.69
2	–	Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace	BAH	25.40	0.65
3	–	Sandra Kazíková	CZE	25.54	0.71
4	–	Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir	ISL	25.82	0.73
5	–	Natasha Moodie	JAM	25.95	0.73
6	–	Leung Chii Lin	MAS	26.75	0.68
DNS	–	Miroslava Najdanovski	SRB	–	–
DNS	–	Bayan Jumah	SYR	–	–

Heat #9

Time	18:50

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Triin Aljand	EST	25.29	0.72
2	–	Martina Moravcová	SVK	25.47	0.79
3	–	Anastasiya Aksenova	RUS	25.51	0.92
4	–	Victoria Poon	CAN	25.58	0.81
5	–	Jang Hui-Jin	KOR	25.59	0.70
6	–	Oksana Serikova	UKR	25.65	0.82
7	–	Martha Matsa	GRE	25.68	0.76
8	–	Vanessa García	PUR	25.81	0.76

Heat #10

Time	18:53

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.20	0.78	Q
2	–	Dara Torres	USA	24.58	0.72	Q
3	–	Fran Halsall	GBR	24.93	0.71	Q
4	–	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	25.07	0.72	Q
=5	–	Anna-Karin Kammerling	SWE	25.34	0.79
=5	–	Flávia Delaroli	BRA	25.34	0.71
7	–	Petra Dallmann	GER	25.43	0.74
8	–	Cristina Chiuso	ITA	25.74	0.75

Heat #11

Time	18:55

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	24.38	0.85	Q
2	–	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	24.83	0.70	Q
3	–	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	24.94	0.78	Q
4	–	Arlene Semeco	VEN	24.98	0.70	Q
=5	–	Hinkelien Schreuder	NED	25.00	0.86	Q
=5	–	Li Zhesi	CHN	25.00	0.80	Q
7	–	Céline Couderc	FRA	25.22	0.75
8	–	Lize-Mari Retief	RSA	25.44	0.69

Heat #12

Time	18:57

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Libby Trickett	AUS	24.67	0.73	Q
2	–	Britta Steffen	GER	24.90	0.76	Q
3	–	Zhu Yingwen	CHN	24.91	0.75	Q
4	–	Malia Metella	FRA	24.95	0.72	Q
5	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	25.01	0.74	Q
6	–	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	25.06	0.68	Q
7	–	Agata Korc	POL	25.14	0.65
8	–	Sviatlana Khokhlava	BLR	25.27	0.78

Semi-Finals

Date	16 August 2008
Format	Fastest eight swimmers advanced to final

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Dara Torres	USA	24.27	Q
2	–	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.42	Q
3	–	Britta Steffen	GER	24.43	Q
4	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	24.46	Q
5	–	Libby Trickett	AUS	24.47	Q
6	–	Hinkelien Schreuder	NED	24.52	Q
7	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	24.63	Q
8	–	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	24.72	Q
9	–	Zhu Yingwen	CHN	24.76
10	–	Fran Halsall	GBR	24.80
11	–	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	24.86
12	–	Malia Metella	FRA	24.89
13	–	Li Zhesi	CHN	24.90
14	–	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	24.96
15	–	Arlene Semeco	VEN	25.05
16	–	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	25.19

Heat #1

Time	10:55

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Britta Steffen	GER	24.43	0.78	Q
2	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	24.46	0.89	Q
3	–	Libby Trickett	AUS	24.47	0.72	Q
4	–	Hinkelien Schreuder	NED	24.52	0.79	Q
5	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	24.63	0.74	Q
6	–	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	24.72	0.71	Q
7	–	Fran Halsall	GBR	24.80	0.71
8	–	Malia Metella	FRA	24.89	0.74

Heat #2

Time	11:00

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Dara Torres	USA	24.27	0.76	Q
2	–	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.42	0.77	Q
3	–	Zhu Yingwen	CHN	24.76	0.79
4	–	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	24.86	0.74
5	–	Li Zhesi	CHN	24.90	0.77
6	–	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	24.96	0.75
7	–	Arlene Semeco	VEN	25.05	0.71
8	–	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	25.19	0.68

Final Round

Date	17 August 2008 — 10:08

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Britta Steffen	GER	24.06	0.80	OR
2	–	Dara Torres	USA	24.07	0.73
3	–	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.17	0.77
4	–	Libby Trickett	AUS	24.25	0.71
5	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	24.26	0.81
6	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	24.63	0.74
7	–	Hinkelien Schreuder	NED	24.65	0.79
8	–	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	24.77	0.75