| | Event type

50 metres Freestyle, Women

Date	3 – 4 August 2012
Status	Olympic
Location	London Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park, Stratford, London
Participants	73 from 65 countries

Sweden’s Therese Alshammar had won this event at the 2011 World Championships, and the defending gold medalist, German Britta Steffen, was back, but they were expected to be challenged by Dutchwoman Ranomi Kromowidjojo, who had already won the 100 freestyle in London. But it was Kromo who won relatively easily, taking the lead from the start and stopping the clock in 24.05 for the gold medal. Behind her teammate Marleen Veldhuis appeared ready to give the Netherlands a 1-2 finish but was pipped at the finish by Belarussian Aleksandra Gerasimenya for the silver. Steffen just missed the medals in fourth place, nipping out Alshammar in fifth.

Kromowidjojo became the fourth woman to sweep the two sprint freestyles since the 50 was introduced in 1988, joining East German Kristin Otto from 1988, her countrywoman Inge de Bruijn in 2000, and Steffan at Beijing. Kromowidjojo’s unusual name reflects her mixed Dutch-Javanese-Surinamese ethnicity.

Pos	Swimmer	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	24.51 (1 h10)	24.07 (1 h2)	24.05 (1)	Gold
2	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	24.76 (3 h9)	24.45 (2 h2)	24.28 (2)	Silver
3	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	24.57 (2 h10)	24.50 (1 h1)	24.39 (3)	Bronze
4	Britta Steffen	GER	24.70 (2 h9)	24.57 (2 h1)	24.46 (4)
5	Fran Halsall	GBR	24.61 (1 h9)	24.63 (3 h2)	24.47 (5)
6	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	24.77 (1 h8)	24.71 (5 h1)	24.61 (6)
7	Jessica Hardy	USA	24.99 (5 h10)	24.68 (4 h1)	24.62 (7)
8	Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace	BAH	24.85 (=3 h10)	24.64 (3 h1)	24.69 (8)
9	Amy Smith	GBR	25.28 (7 h9)	24.87 (6 h1)	–
10	Bronte Campbell	AUS	24.87 (2 h8)	24.94 (=4 h2)	–
11	Anna Santamans	FRA	25.23 (6 h9)	24.94 (=4 h2)	–
12	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	24.85 (=3 h10)	24.99 (6 h2)	–
13	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.94 (3 h8)	25.01 (7 h1)	–
14	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	24.94 (4 h9)	25.08 (7 h2)	–
15	Victoria Poon	CAN	25.15 (5 h9)	25.17 (8 h1)	–
16	Nora Drakou	GRE	25.13 (4 h8)	25.28 (8 h2)	–
=17	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	25.28 (5 h8)	–	–
=17	Sarah Bateman	ISL	25.28 (1 h7)	–	–
19	Triin Aljand	EST	25.33 (6 h10)	–	–
20	Sviatlana Khokhlava	BLR	25.36 (7 h10)	–	–
21	Nery Mantey Niagkkouara	GRE	25.40 (6 h8)	–	–
22	Graciele Herrmann	BRA	25.44 (7 h8)	–	–
23	Hayley Palmer	NZL	25.47 (2 h7)	–	–
=24	Pernille Blume	DEN	25.54 (8 h9)	–	–
=24	Zhu Qianwei	CHN	25.54 (1 h6)	–	–
=26	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	25.55 (2 h6)	–	–
=26	Rūta Meilutytė	LTU	25.55 (1 h5)	–	–
28	Arlene Semeco	VEN	25.56 (3 h7)	–	–
29	Vanessa García	PUR	25.58 (4 h7)	–	–
30	Anna Dowgiert	POL	25.59 (5 h7)	–	–
31	Jolien Sysmans	BEL	25.60 (6 h7)	–	–
32	Erika Ferraioli	ITA	25.69 (3 h6)	–	–
33	Dar'ia Stepaniuk	UKR	25.70 (8 h10)	–	–
34	Burcu Dolunay	TUR	25.72 (7 h7)	–	–
35	Yayoi Matsumoto	JPN	25.73 (8 h8)	–	–
36	Trudi Maree	RSA	25.78 (8 h7)	–	–
37	Alia Atkinson	JAM	25.98 (4 h6)	–	–
38	Miroslava Syllabová	SVK	26.07 (5 h6)	–	–
39	Gabriela Ņikitina	LAT	26.26 (2 h5)	–	–
40	Chinyere Pigot	SUR	26.30 (3 h5)	–	–
41	Farida Osman	EGY	26.34 (6 h6)	–	–
42	Miroslava Najdanovski	SRB	26.46 (7 h6)	–	–
43	Nicola Muscat	MLT	27.22 (4 h5)	–	–
44	Jessica Vieira	MOZ	27.39 (5 h5)	–	–
45	Talita Baqlah	JOR	27.45 (6 h5)	–	–
46	Joyce Tafatatha	MAW	27.74 (1 h4)	–	–
47	Judith Meauri	PNG	27.84 (2 h4)	–	–
48	Faye Sultan	KUW	27.92 (7 h5)	–	–
49	Annie Hepler	MHL	28.06 (3 h4)	–	–
50	Keesha Keane	PLW	28.25 (4 h4)	–	–
51	Sabine Hazboun	PLE	28.28 (5 h4)	–	–
52	Jamila Lunkuse	UGA	28.44 (8 h5)	–	–
53	Antoinette Guedia	CMR	29.28 (6 h4)	–	–
54	Celeste Brown	COK	29.36 (7 h4)	–	–
55	Karin Clashing O'Reilly	ANT	30.01 (1 h3)	–	–
56	Debra Daniel	FSM	30.32 (1 h2)	–	–
57	Hem Thon Vitiny	CAM	30.44 (2 h3)	–	–
58	Alphonsine Agahozo	RWA	30.72 (3 h3)	–	–
59	Nada Arkaji	QAT	30.89 (4 h3)	–	–
60	Katerina Izmaylova	TJK	31.27 (5 h3)	–	–
61	Mariana Henriques	ANG	31.36 (8 h4)	–	–
62	Fatoumata Samassékou	MLI	31.88 (6 h3)	–	–
63	Angelika Ouédraogo	BUR	32.19 (2 h2)	–	–
64	Aminath Shajan	MDV	32.23 (7 h3)	–	–
65	Yanet Gebremedhin	ETH	32.41 (8 h3)	–	–
66	Assita Touré	CIV	33.09 (3 h2)	–	–
67	Elsie Uwamahoro	BDI	33.14 (4 h2)	–	–
68	Sara Al-Flaij	BRN	33.81 (5 h2)	–	–
69	Aminata Yacoub	CGO	34.64 (6 h2)	–	–
70	Mhasin Al-Noor	SUD	35.07 (7 h2)	–	–
71	Nafissatou Adamou	NIG	37.29 (1 h1)	–	–
72	Adzo Kpossi	TOG	37.55 (2 h1)	–	–
73	Masempe Theko	LES	42.35 (3 h1)	–	–
DNS	Eszter Dara	HUN	– (DNS h6)	–	–

Round One (3 August 2012 — 10:00)

Fastest 16 swimmers advanced to semi-finals

Heat One (10:00)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Nafissatou Adamou	NIG	– (–) –	37.29	0.92
2	5	Adzo Kpossi	TOG	– (–) –	37.55	0.80
3	3	Masempe Theko	LES	– (–) –	42.35	1.07

Heat Two (10:03)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	6	Debra Daniel	FSM	– (–) –	30.32	0.74
2	4	Angelika Ouédraogo	BUR	– (–) –	32.19	0.81
3	3	Assita Touré	CIV	– (–) –	33.09	0.97
4	2	Elsie Uwamahoro	BDI	– (–) –	33.14	0.78
5	5	Sara Al-Flaij	BRN	– (–) –	33.81	0.79
6	7	Aminata Yacoub	CGO	– (–) –	34.64	0.82
7	1	Mhasin Al-Noor	SUD	– (–) –	35.07	0.99

Heat Three (10:05)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	3	Karin Clashing O'Reilly	ANT	– (–) –	30.01	0.79
2	6	Hem Thon Vitiny	CAM	– (–) –	30.44	0.78
3	5	Alphonsine Agahozo	RWA	– (–) –	30.72	0.84
4	2	Nada Arkaji	QAT	– (–) –	30.89	0.77
5	4	Katerina Izmaylova	TJK	– (–) –	31.27	0.77
6	7	Fatoumata Samassékou	MLI	– (–) –	31.88	0.89
7	8	Aminath Shajan	MDV	– (–) –	32.23	0.78
8	1	Yanet Gebremedhin	ETH	– (–) –	32.41	0.88

Heat Four (10:07)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	2	Joyce Tafatatha	MAW	– (–) –	27.74	0.71
2	5	Judith Meauri	PNG	– (–) –	27.84	0.78
3	4	Annie Hepler	MHL	– (–) –	28.06	0.66
4	3	Keesha Keane	PLW	– (–) –	28.25	0.66
5	6	Sabine Hazboun	PLE	– (–) –	28.28	0.71
6	8	Antoinette Guedia	CMR	– (–) –	29.28	0.81
7	7	Celeste Brown	COK	– (–) –	29.36	0.75
8	1	Mariana Henriques	ANG	– (–) –	31.36	0.67

Heat Five (10:09)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Rūta Meilutytė	LTU	– (–) –	25.55	0.60
2	3	Gabriela Ņikitina	LAT	– (–) –	26.26	0.76
3	5	Chinyere Pigot	SUR	– (–) –	26.30	0.74
4	6	Nicola Muscat	MLT	– (–) –	27.22	0.68
5	2	Jessica Vieira	MOZ	– (–) –	27.39	0.67
6	7	Talita Baqlah	JOR	– (–) –	27.45	0.77
7	1	Faye Sultan	KUW	– (–) –	27.92	0.73
8	8	Jamila Lunkuse	UGA	– (–) –	28.44	0.70

Heat Six (10:12)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	3	Zhu Qianwei	CHN	– (–) –	25.54	0.67
2	5	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	– (–) –	25.55	0.72
3	6	Erika Ferraioli	ITA	– (–) –	25.69	0.69
4	8	Alia Atkinson	JAM	– (–) –	25.98	0.66
5	2	Miroslava Syllabová	SVK	– (–) –	26.07	0.77
6	1	Farida Osman	EGY	– (–) –	26.34	0.72
7	7	Miroslava Najdanovski	SRB	– (–) –	26.46	0.77
DNS	4	Eszter Dara	HUN	– (–) –	–	–

Heat Seven (10:14)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	6	Sarah Bateman	ISL	– (–) –	25.28	0.67
2	2	Hayley Palmer	NZL	– (–) –	25.47	0.65
3	4	Arlene Semeco	VEN	– (–) –	25.56	0.69
4	7	Vanessa García	PUR	– (–) –	25.58	0.64
5	3	Anna Dowgiert	POL	– (–) –	25.59	0.67
6	8	Jolien Sysmans	BEL	– (–) –	25.60	0.73
7	5	Burcu Dolunay	TUR	– (–) –	25.72	0.67
8	1	Trudi Maree	RSA	– (–) –	25.78	0.64

Heat Eight (10:16)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	24.77	0.66	Q
2	3	Bronte Campbell	AUS	– (–) –	24.87	0.77	Q
3	5	Cate Campbell	AUS	– (–) –	24.94	0.83	Q
4	7	Nora Drakou	GRE	– (–) –	25.13	0.63	Q
5	6	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	– (–) –	25.28	0.70
6	2	Nery Mantey Niagkkouara	GRE	– (–) –	25.40	0.70
7	1	Graciele Herrmann	BRA	– (–) –	25.44	0.69
8	8	Yayoi Matsumoto	JPN	– (–) –	25.73	0.69

Heat Nine (10:18)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Fran Halsall	GBR	– (–) –	24.61	0.71	Q
2	5	Britta Steffen	GER	– (–) –	24.70	0.75	Q
3	3	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	– (–) –	24.76	0.75	Q
4	6	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	– (–) –	24.94	0.76	Q
5	7	Victoria Poon	CAN	– (–) –	25.15	0.77	Q
6	8	Anna Santamans	FRA	– (–) –	25.23	0.70	Q
7	2	Amy Smith	GBR	– (–) –	25.28	0.73	Q
8	1	Pernille Blume	DEN	– (–) –	25.54	0.86

Heat Ten (10:20)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	– (–) –	24.51	0.72	Q
2	5	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	– (–) –	24.57	0.78	Q
=3	6	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	– (–) –	24.85	0.71	Q
=3	2	Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace	BAH	– (–) –	24.85	0.65	Q
5	3	Jessica Hardy	USA	– (–) –	24.99	0.72	Q
6	7	Triin Aljand	EST	– (–) –	25.33	0.70
7	1	Sviatlana Khokhlava	BLR	– (–) –	25.36	0.74
8	8	Dar'ia Stepaniuk	UKR	– (–) –	25.70	0.76

Swim-Off (12:05)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	3	Amy Smith	GBR	– (–) –	24.82	0.65	Q
2	5	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	– (–) –	25.16	0.72
3	4	Sarah Bateman	ISL	– (–) –	26.03	0.68

Semi-Finals (3 August 2012 — 20:27)

Fastest eight swimmers advanced to final

Heat One (20:27)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	– (–) –	24.50	0.73	Q
2	5	Britta Steffen	GER	– (–) –	24.57	0.70	Q
3	6	Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace	BAH	– (–) –	24.64	0.65	Q
4	7	Jessica Hardy	USA	– (–) –	24.68	0.72	Q
5	3	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	24.71	0.67	Q
6	8	Amy Smith	GBR	– (–) –	24.87	0.65
7	2	Cate Campbell	AUS	– (–) –	25.01	0.80
8	1	Victoria Poon	CAN	– (–) –	25.17	0.76

Heat Two (20:31)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	– (–) –	24.07	0.71	Q
2	3	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	– (–) –	24.45	0.73	Q
3	5	Fran Halsall	GBR	– (–) –	24.63	0.69	Q
=4	2	Bronte Campbell	AUS	– (–) –	24.94	0.76
=4	8	Anna Santamans	FRA	– (–) –	24.94	0.59
6	6	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	– (–) –	24.99	0.68
7	7	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	– (–) –	25.08	0.72
8	1	Nora Drakou	GRE	– (–) –	25.28	0.62

Final (4 August 2012 — 19:30)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	– (–) –	24.05	0.72	OR
2	5	Aliaksandra Herasimenia	BLR	– (–) –	24.28	0.74
3	3	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	– (–) –	24.39	0.74
4	6	Britta Steffen	GER	– (–) –	24.46	0.71
5	2	Fran Halsall	GBR	– (–) –	24.47	0.67
6	8	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	24.61	0.68
7	1	Jessica Hardy	USA	– (–) –	24.62	0.72
8	7	Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace	BAH	– (–) –	24.69	0.71