| | Event type

100 metres Butterfly, Men

Date	2 – 3 August 2012
Status	Olympic
Location	London Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park, Stratford, London
Participants	43 from 36 countries

The 2008 Olympic version of this race had been one of the closest races in Olympic history with Michael Phelps out-touching Serbian Milorad Čavić by only 1/100th of a second. Both were back in London and both made the final. Phelps’ best stroke was the butterfly and he had won the 100 and 200 butterfly at the 2011 World Championships, as he had done at the 2004 and 2008 World Championships. But he had earlier faltered in the 200 fly in London, winning “only” silver behind South African Chad le Clos.

The final saw the early lead taken by Čavić and German Steffen Deibler, with Phelps seventh at 50 metres, leading only Le Clos. But the final lap was all Phelps as he finished in 51.21 to three-peat in the event, with Le Clos also coming on strong to finish in a second-place tie with Russian Yevgeny Korotyshkin. Fourth-place was also a dead-heat between Deibler and Čavić.

For Phelps this was his final individual gold medal of a vaunted Olympic career. It was his 11th individual gold medal and 17th gold medal in all – he would later win #18 in the 4×100 medley relay. His three-peat in this event followed a similar three-peat he had just completed in the 200 IM, making him the first man to three-peat in a swimming event at the Olympics, and only the third person ever, following Australian Dawn Fraser in the 100 freestyle in 1956-64, and Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi in the 100 backstroke in 1988-96.

Pos	Competitor	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Michael Phelps	USA	51.72 (1 h6)	50.86 (1 h1)	51.21 (1)	Gold
=2	Chad le Clos	RSA	51.54 (1 h5)	51.42 (1 h2)	51.44 (=2)	Silver
=2	Yevgeny Korotyshkin	RUS	51.84 (1 h4)	51.85 (5 h2)	51.44 (=2)	Silver
=4	Milorad Čavić	SRB	51.90 (2 h6)	51.66 (3 h2)	51.81 (=4)
=4	Steffen Deibler	GER	51.92 (3 h5)	51.76 (2 h1)	51.81 (=4)
6	Joeri Verlinden	NED	52.07 (3 h6)	51.75 (4 h2)	51.82 (6)
7	Tyler McGill	USA	51.95 (2 h4)	51.61 (2 h2)	51.88 (7)
8	Konrad Czerniak	POL	51.85 (2 h5)	51.78 (3 h1)	52.05 (8)
9	Dinko Jukic	AUT	52.22 (2 h3)	51.99 (6 h2)	–
10	Nikolay Skvortsov	RUS	52.12 (5 h6)	52.03 (7 h2)	–
11	Chris Wright	AUS	52.11 (4 h6)	52.11 (4 h1)	–
12	Jason Dunford	KEN	52.23 (4 h5)	52.16 (8 h2)	–
13	Zhou Jiawei	CHN	52.06 (3 h4)	52.30 (5 h1)	–
=14	Benjamin Starke	GER	52.36 (4 h4)	52.40 (=6 h1)	–
=14	Bence Pulai	HUN	52.19 (1 h3)	52.40 (=6 h1)	–
16	François Heersbrandt	BEL	52.22 (6 h6)	52.71 (8 h1)	–
17	Takeshi Matsuda	JPN	52.36 (7 h6)	–	–
18	Ivan Lenđer	SRB	52.40 (5 h5)	–	–
19	Peter Mankoč	SLO	52.44 (3 h3)	–	–
20	Lars Frölander	SWE	52.47 (5 h4)	–	–
21	Takuro Fujii	JPN	52.49 (6 h5)	–	–
22	Matteo Rivolta	ITA	52.50 (6 h4)	–	–
23	Jayden Hadler	AUS	52.52 (7 h5)	–	–
24	Michael Rock	GBR	52.56 (7 h4)	–	–
25	Ryan Pini	PNG	52.68 (4 h3)	–	–
26	Jang Gyu-Cheol	KOR	52.69 (5 h3)	–	–
27	Joe Bartoch	CAN	53.09 (6 h3)	–	–
28	Kaio Márcio	BRA	53.14 (8 h4)	–	–
29	Albert Subirats	VEN	53.18 (8 h5)	–	–
30	Clément Lefert	FRA	53.22 (7 h3)	–	–
31	Antony James	GBR	53.25 (8 h6)	–	–
32	Simão Morgado	POR	53.26 (8 h3)	–	–
33	Dominik Meichtry	SUI	53.40 (1 h2)	–	–
34	Paval Sankovich	BLR	53.47 (2 h2)	–	–
35	Joseph Schooling	SGP	53.63 (3 h2)	–	–
36	Ben Hockin	PAR	53.65 (4 h2)	–	–
37	Daniel Bell	NZL	53.76 (5 h2)	–	–
38	Yevgeni Lazuka	AZE	53.86 (6 h2)	–	–
39	Vytautas Janušaitis	LTU	54.17 (7 h2)	–	–
40	Stefanos Dimitriadis	GRE	54.20 (8 h2)	–	–
41	Sofyan El-Gadi	LBA	56.99 (1 h1)	–	–
42	Mohanad Al-Azzawi	IRQ	1:00.71 (2 h1)	–	–
43	Khalid Baba	BRN	1:04.05 (3 h1)	–	–

Round One

Date	2 August 2012 — 11:14
Format	Fastest 16 swimmers advanced to semi-finals

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Chad le Clos	RSA	51.54	Q
2	–	Michael Phelps	USA	51.72	Q
3	–	Yevgeny Korotyshkin	RUS	51.84	Q
4	–	Konrad Czerniak	POL	51.85	Q
5	–	Milorad Čavić	SRB	51.90	Q
6	–	Steffen Deibler	GER	51.92	Q
7	–	Tyler McGill	USA	51.95	Q
8	–	Zhou Jiawei	CHN	52.06	Q
9	–	Joeri Verlinden	NED	52.07	Q
10	–	Chris Wright	AUS	52.11	Q
11	–	Nikolay Skvortsov	RUS	52.12	Q
12	–	Bence Pulai	HUN	52.19	Q
=13	–	Dinko Jukic	AUT	52.22	Q
=13	–	François Heersbrandt	BEL	52.22	Q
15	–	Jason Dunford	KEN	52.23	Q
=16	–	Benjamin Starke	GER	52.36	Q	1
=16	–	Takeshi Matsuda	JPN	52.36		2
18	–	Ivan Lenđer	SRB	52.40
19	–	Peter Mankoč	SLO	52.44
20	–	Lars Frölander	SWE	52.47
21	–	Takuro Fujii	JPN	52.49
22	–	Matteo Rivolta	ITA	52.50
23	–	Jayden Hadler	AUS	52.52
24	–	Michael Rock	GBR	52.56
25	–	Ryan Pini	PNG	52.68
26	–	Jang Gyu-Cheol	KOR	52.69
27	–	Joe Bartoch	CAN	53.09
28	–	Kaio Márcio	BRA	53.14
29	–	Albert Subirats	VEN	53.18
30	–	Clément Lefert	FRA	53.22
31	–	Antony James	GBR	53.25
32	–	Simão Morgado	POR	53.26
33	–	Dominik Meichtry	SUI	53.40
34	–	Paval Sankovich	BLR	53.47
35	–	Joseph Schooling	SGP	53.63
36	–	Ben Hockin	PAR	53.65
37	–	Daniel Bell	NZL	53.76
38	–	Yevgeni Lazuka	AZE	53.86
39	–	Vytautas Janušaitis	LTU	54.17
40	–	Stefanos Dimitriadis	GRE	54.20
41	–	Sofyan El-Gadi	LBA	56.99
42	–	Mohanad Al-Azzawi	IRQ	1:00.71
43	–	Khalid Baba	BRN	1:04.05

Heat #1

Time	11:14

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Sofyan El-Gadi	LBA	56.99	0.71	26.33 (1)	30.66
2	–	Mohanad Al-Azzawi	IRQ	1:00.71	0.81	28.60 (2)	32.11
3	–	Khalid Baba	BRN	1:04.05	0.67	30.02 (3)	34.03

Heat #2

Time	11:17

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Dominik Meichtry	SUI	53.40	0.65	24.84 (4)	28.56
2	–	Paval Sankovich	BLR	53.47	0.79	24.94 (5)	28.53
3	–	Joseph Schooling	SGP	53.63	0.66	25.53 (8)	28.10
4	–	Ben Hockin	PAR	53.65	0.80	24.78 (3)	28.87
5	–	Daniel Bell	NZL	53.76	0.64	24.74 (2)	29.02
6	–	Yevgeni Lazuka	AZE	53.86	0.72	24.61 (1)	29.25
7	–	Vytautas Janušaitis	LTU	54.17	0.76	25.41 (6)	28.76
8	–	Stefanos Dimitriadis	GRE	54.20	0.79	25.44 (7)	28.76

Heat #3

Time	11:19

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Bence Pulai	HUN	52.19	0.68	24.31 (4)	27.88	Q
2	–	Dinko Jukic	AUT	52.22	0.70	24.65 (7)	27.57	Q
3	–	Peter Mankoč	SLO	52.44	0.66	24.44 (6)	28.00
4	–	Ryan Pini	PNG	52.68	0.70	24.21 (1)	28.47
5	–	Jang Gyu-Cheol	KOR	52.69	0.64	24.67 (8)	28.02
6	–	Joe Bartoch	CAN	53.09	0.67	24.24 (2)	28.85
7	–	Clément Lefert	FRA	53.22	0.64	24.36 (5)	28.86
8	–	Simão Morgado	POR	53.26	0.63	24.30 (3)	28.96

Heat #4

Time	11:22

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Yevgeny Korotyshkin	RUS	51.84	0.73	24.24 (4)	27.60	Q
2	–	Tyler McGill	USA	51.95	0.62	23.91 (1)	28.04	Q
3	–	Zhou Jiawei	CHN	52.06	0.71	24.39 (5)	27.67	Q
4	–	Benjamin Starke	GER	52.36	0.75	24.14 (3)	28.22	Q	3
5	–	Lars Frölander	SWE	52.47	0.66	24.41 (6)	28.06
6	–	Matteo Rivolta	ITA	52.50	0.70	24.58 (7)	27.92
7	–	Michael Rock	GBR	52.56	0.64	24.13 (2)	28.43
8	–	Kaio Márcio	BRA	53.14	0.65	24.60 (8)	28.54

Heat #5

Time	11:25

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Chad le Clos	RSA	51.54	0.72	24.38 (4)	27.16	Q
2	–	Konrad Czerniak	POL	51.85	0.76	24.44 (5)	27.41	Q
3	–	Steffen Deibler	GER	51.92	0.69	24.02 (2)	27.90	Q
4	–	Jason Dunford	KEN	52.23	0.69	23.56 (1)	28.67	Q
5	–	Ivan Lenđer	SRB	52.40	0.70	24.13 (3)	28.27
6	–	Takuro Fujii	JPN	52.49	0.64	24.75 (7)	27.74
7	–	Jayden Hadler	AUS	52.52	0.63	24.80 (8)	27.72
8	–	Albert Subirats	VEN	53.18	0.70	24.48 (6)	28.70

Heat #6

Time	11:27

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Michael Phelps	USA	51.72	0.70	24.58 (8)	27.14	Q
2	–	Milorad Čavić	SRB	51.90	0.75	23.70 (1)	28.20	Q
3	–	Joeri Verlinden	NED	52.07	0.71	24.46 (4)	27.61	Q
4	–	Chris Wright	AUS	52.11	0.69	24.39 (3)	27.72	Q
5	–	Nikolay Skvortsov	RUS	52.12	0.71	24.49 (5)	27.63	Q
6	–	François Heersbrandt	BEL	52.22	0.69	24.12 (2)	28.10	Q
7	–	Takeshi Matsuda	JPN	52.36	0.68	24.56 (7)	27.80		4
8	–	Antony James	GBR	53.25	0.65	24.54 (6)	28.71

Semi-Finals

Date	2 August 2012 — 20:56
Format	Fastest eight swimmers advanced to final

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Michael Phelps	USA	50.86	Q
2	–	Chad le Clos	RSA	51.42	Q
3	–	Tyler McGill	USA	51.61	Q
4	–	Milorad Čavić	SRB	51.66	Q
5	–	Joeri Verlinden	NED	51.75	Q
6	–	Steffen Deibler	GER	51.76	Q
7	–	Konrad Czerniak	POL	51.78	Q
8	–	Yevgeny Korotyshkin	RUS	51.85	Q
9	–	Dinko Jukic	AUT	51.99
10	–	Nikolay Skvortsov	RUS	52.03
11	–	Chris Wright	AUS	52.11
12	–	Jason Dunford	KEN	52.16
13	–	Zhou Jiawei	CHN	52.30
=14	–	Benjamin Starke	GER	52.40
=14	–	Bence Pulai	HUN	52.40
16	–	François Heersbrandt	BEL	52.71

Heat #1

Time	20:56

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Michael Phelps	USA	50.86	0.71	24.20 (=3)	26.66	Q
2	–	Steffen Deibler	GER	51.76	0.68	23.69 (1)	28.07	Q
3	–	Konrad Czerniak	POL	51.78	0.77	24.20 (=3)	27.58	Q
4	–	Chris Wright	AUS	52.11	0.72	24.69 (8)	27.42
5	–	Zhou Jiawei	CHN	52.30	0.72	24.62 (7)	27.68
=6	–	Benjamin Starke	GER	52.40	0.80	24.10 (2)	28.30
=6	–	Bence Pulai	HUN	52.40	0.68	24.40 (5)	28.00
8	–	François Heersbrandt	BEL	52.71	0.76	24.57 (6)	28.14

Heat #2

Time	21:01

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Chad le Clos	RSA	51.42	0.72	24.35 (5)	27.07	Q
2	–	Tyler McGill	USA	51.61	0.60	23.90 (3)	27.71	Q
3	–	Milorad Čavić	SRB	51.66	0.73	23.56 (1)	28.10	Q
4	–	Joeri Verlinden	NED	51.75	0.71	24.36 (6)	27.39	Q
5	–	Yevgeny Korotyshkin	RUS	51.85	0.65	24.02 (4)	27.83	Q
6	–	Dinko Jukic	AUT	51.99	0.70	24.47 (8)	27.52
7	–	Nikolay Skvortsov	RUS	52.03	0.72	24.46 (7)	27.57
8	–	Jason Dunford	KEN	52.16	0.67	23.82 (2)	28.34

Final Round

Date	3 August 2012 — 19:38

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Michael Phelps	USA	51.21	0.73	24.35 (7)	26.86
=2	–	Chad le Clos	RSA	51.44	0.72	24.45 (8)	26.99
=2	–	Yevgeny Korotyshkin	RUS	51.44	0.68	24.08 (4)	27.36
=4	–	Milorad Čavić	SRB	51.81	0.74	23.57 (1)	28.24
=4	–	Steffen Deibler	GER	51.81	0.67	23.8 (2)	28.01
6	–	Joeri Verlinden	NED	51.82	0.71	24.29 (6)	27.53
7	–	Tyler McGill	USA	51.88	0.61	24.17 (5)	27.71
8	–	Konrad Czerniak	POL	52.05	0.77	23.91 (3)	28.14