| | Event type

100 metres Butterfly, Men

Date	20 – 21 September 1988
Status	Olympic
Location	Su-yeong-jang, Ol-lim-pik Gong-won, Seoul
Participants	51 from 36 countries

The best butterflyer in the world for the last 5-6 years was American Pablo Morales. But he shockingly failed to make the US team at the Olympic Trials. This left his teammate Matt Biondi in the favorite’s role in Seoul. Biondi was attempting to emulate Mark Spitz and win seven gold medals, but the night before this final, the 1988 Olympics had started poorly for him when he won “only” a bronze medal in the 200 free.

In the butterfly final, Biondi went out ahead well ahead to the wall. He led the race until the last stroke, but as he neared the wall, he was between strokes and elected to kick in, only to be slightly farther out than he realized, and this allowed Suriname’s Anthony Nesty to pass him and win the gold medal by 1/100th of a second. Nesty was not unknown, having placed fourth at the 1986 World Championships, and winning gold at the 1987 Pan American Games, but this was an upset, and it was the first Olympic medal ever won for Suriname, and also made Nesty the first black swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal.

Nesty had trained and lived and went to college in the United States for several years. But he considered Suriname home and returned to a hero’s welcome, being showered with gifts. He would return to Barcelona four years hence and add a bronze medal in this event. Biondi recovered fairly well from his poor start in Seoul, winning five golds in his last five races.

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	R1	B Final	Final
1	474	Anthony Nesty	SUR	53.50 (1 h6)	–	53.00 (1)	Gold
2	548	Matt Biondi	USA	53.46 (1 h7)	–	53.01 (2)	Silver
3	246	Andy Jameson	GBR	53.34 (1 h5)	–	53.30 (3)	Bronze
4	24	Jon Sieben	AUS	53.85 (3 h7)	–	53.33 (4)
5	204	Michael Groß	FRG	53.78 (2 h7)	–	53.44 (5)
6	571	Jay Mortenson	USA	54.44 (3 h6)	–	54.07 (6)
7	85	Tom Ponting	CAN	54.31 (2 h5)	–	54.09 (7)
8	518	Vadim Yaroshchuk	URS	54.17 (2 h6)	–	54.60 (8)
9	108	Shen Jianqiang	CHN	54.86 (7 h5)	54.52 (1)	–
10	436	Anthony Mosse	NZL	54.63 (3 h5)	54.63 (2)	–
11	130	Benny Nielsen	DEN	54.52 (4 h7)	54.77 (3)	–
12	72	Vlastimil Cerny	CAN	54.66 (4 h5)	54.79 (4)	–
13	444	Rafał Szukała	POL	54.83 (6 h5)	54.80 (5)	–
14	380	Hiroshi Miura	JPN	54.82 (5 h7)	54.98 (6)	–
15	119	Zheng Jian	CHN	54.69 (5 h5)	55.05 (7)	–
16	235	Neil Cochran	GBR	54.75 (4 h6)	55.22 (8)	–
17	208	Martin Herrmann	FRG	55.20 (6 h7)	–	–
18	141	José Luis Ballester	ESP	55.27 (5 h6)	–	–
19	295	Frank Drost	NED	55.38 (7 h7)	–	–
20	32	David Wilson	AUS	55.54 (1 h4)	–	–
21	494	Robert Wolf	TCH	55.73 (8 h7)	–	–
22	361	Leonardo Michelotti	ITA	55.83 (6 h6)	–	–
23	531	Konstantin Petrov	URS	55.84 (7 h6)	–	–
24	387	Yukinori Tanaka	JPN	56.19 (2 h4)	–	–
25	432	Ross Anderson	NZL	56.31 (3 h4)	–	–
26	60	Eduardo Poli	BRA	56.37 (4 h4)	–	–
27	176	Ludovic Dépickère	FRA	56.47 (8 h6)	–	–
28	356	Valerio Giambalvo	ITA	56.57 (8 h5)	–	–
29	37	Reinhold Leitner	AUT	56.72 (1 h2)	–	–
30	469	Théophile David	SUI	56.77 (5 h4)	–	–
31	439	Eric Buhain	PHI	57.17 (1 h3)	–	–
32	63	Vladimir Ribeiro	BRA	57.25 (2 h3)	–	–
33	446	Mabílio Albuquerque	POR	57.30 (2 h2)	–	–
34	48	Paul Yelle	BAR	57.36 (1 h1)	–	–
35	459	Ang Peng Siong	SGP	57.41 (6 h4)	–	–
36	270	Theodoros Gkriniazakis	GRE	57.56 (3 h3)	–	–
37	448	Paulo Camacho	POR	57.62 (4 h3)	–	–
38	406	Park Yeong-Cheol	KOR	57.74 (5 h3)	–	–
39	288	Tsang Yi Ming	HKG	57.84 (6 h3)	–	–
40	429	Urbano Zea	MEX	57.89 (3 h2)	–	–
41	427	Carlos Romo	MEX	58.04 (7 h4)	–	–
42	4	Pedro Lima	ANG	59.21 (4 h2)	–	–
43	603	Graham Thompson	ZIM	1:00.13 (5 h2)	–	–
44	342	Kristan Singleton	ISV	1:00.97 (6 h2)	–	–
45	338	William Cleveland	ISV	1:01.10 (7 h2)	–	–
46	430	Sergio Fafitine	MOZ	1:01.15 (2 h1)	–	–
47	301	Plutarco Castellanos	HON	1:02.69 (3 h1)	–	–
48	45	Salam Mohamed Abdul Salam	BAN	1:03.69 (4 h1)	–	–
49	503	Mohamed Bin Abid	UAE	1:06.25 (5 h1)	–	–
50	488	Trevor Ncala	SWZ	1:06.85 (6 h1)	–	–
51	3	Jorge Gomes	ANG	1:09.60 (7 h1)	–	–
DNS	35	Michael Adam	AUT	– (DNS h4)	–	–
DNS	458	Sal Vassallo	PUR	– (DNS h1)	–	–
DNS	463	Oon Jin Gee	SGP	– (DNS h2)	–	–
DNS	590	Matjaž Kozelj	YUG	– (DNS h3)	–	–

Round One

Date	20 September 1988 — 9:00
Format	Fastest eight advanced to the final. Places 9-16 advanced to the B Final.

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Andy Jameson	GBR	53.34	Q
2	–	Matt Biondi	USA	53.46	Q
3	–	Anthony Nesty	SUR	53.50	Q
4	–	Michael Groß	FRG	53.78	Q
5	–	Jon Sieben	AUS	53.85	Q
6	–	Vadim Yaroshchuk	URS	54.17	Q
7	–	Tom Ponting	CAN	54.31	Q
8	–	Jay Mortenson	USA	54.44	Q
9	–	Benny Nielsen	DEN	54.52	q
10	–	Anthony Mosse	NZL	54.63	q
11	–	Vlastimil Cerny	CAN	54.66	q
12	–	Zheng Jian	CHN	54.69	q
13	–	Neil Cochran	GBR	54.75	q
14	–	Hiroshi Miura	JPN	54.82	q
15	–	Rafał Szukała	POL	54.83	q
16	–	Shen Jianqiang	CHN	54.86	q
17	–	Martin Herrmann	FRG	55.20
18	–	José Luis Ballester	ESP	55.27
19	–	Frank Drost	NED	55.38
20	–	David Wilson	AUS	55.54
21	–	Robert Wolf	TCH	55.73
22	–	Leonardo Michelotti	ITA	55.83
23	–	Konstantin Petrov	URS	55.84
24	–	Yukinori Tanaka	JPN	56.19
25	–	Ross Anderson	NZL	56.31
26	–	Eduardo Poli	BRA	56.37
27	–	Ludovic Dépickère	FRA	56.47
28	–	Valerio Giambalvo	ITA	56.57
29	–	Reinhold Leitner	AUT	56.72
30	–	Théophile David	SUI	56.77
31	–	Eric Buhain	PHI	57.17
32	–	Vladimir Ribeiro	BRA	57.25
33	–	Mabílio Albuquerque	POR	57.30
34	–	Paul Yelle	BAR	57.36
35	–	Ang Peng Siong	SGP	57.41
36	–	Theodoros Gkriniazakis	GRE	57.56
37	–	Paulo Camacho	POR	57.62
38	–	Park Yeong-Cheol	KOR	57.74
39	–	Tsang Yi Ming	HKG	57.84
40	–	Urbano Zea	MEX	57.89
41	–	Carlos Romo	MEX	58.04
42	–	Pedro Lima	ANG	59.21
43	–	Graham Thompson	ZIM	1:00.13
44	–	Kristan Singleton	ISV	1:00.97
45	–	William Cleveland	ISV	1:01.10
46	–	Sergio Fafitine	MOZ	1:01.15
47	–	Plutarco Castellanos	HON	1:02.69
48	–	Salam Mohamed Abdul Salam	BAN	1:03.69
49	–	Mohamed Bin Abid	UAE	1:06.25
50	–	Trevor Ncala	SWZ	1:06.85
51	–	Jorge Gomes	ANG	1:09.60
DNS	–	Sal Vassallo	PUR	–
DNS	–	Oon Jin Gee	SGP	–
DNS	–	Matjaž Kozelj	YUG	–
DNS	–	Michael Adam	AUT	–

Heat #1

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Paul Yelle	BAR	57.36	26.56 (1)	30.80 (1)
2	–	Sergio Fafitine	MOZ	1:01.15	29.25 (2)	31.90 (2)
3	–	Plutarco Castellanos	HON	1:02.69	29.45 (3)	33.24 (3)
4	–	Salam Mohamed Abdul Salam	BAN	1:03.69	29.65 (4)	34.04 (4)
5	–	Mohamed Bin Abid	UAE	1:06.25	30.74 (6)	35.51 (5)
6	–	Trevor Ncala	SWZ	1:06.85	30.16 (5)	36.69 (6)
7	–	Jorge Gomes	ANG	1:09.60	32.60 (7)	37.00 (7)
DNS	–	Sal Vassallo	PUR	–	– (–)	–

Heat #2

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Reinhold Leitner	AUT	56.72	26.87 (1)	29.85 (1)
2	–	Mabílio Albuquerque	POR	57.30	27.14 (2)	30.16 (2)
3	–	Urbano Zea	MEX	57.89	27.53 (3)	30.36 (3)
4	–	Pedro Lima	ANG	59.21	28.09 (5)	31.12 (4)
5	–	Graham Thompson	ZIM	1:00.13	27.71 (4)	32.42 (7)
6	–	Kristan Singleton	ISV	1:00.97	28.69 (6)	32.28 (6)
7	–	William Cleveland	ISV	1:01.10	28.84 (7)	32.26 (5)
DNS	–	Oon Jin Gee	SGP	–	– (–)	–

Heat #3

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Eric Buhain	PHI	57.17	27.01 (2)	30.16 (1)
2	–	Vladimir Ribeiro	BRA	57.25	26.99 (1)	30.26 (4)
3	–	Theodoros Gkriniazakis	GRE	57.56	27.34 (5)	30.22 (3)
4	–	Paulo Camacho	POR	57.62	27.42 (6)	30.20 (2)
5	–	Park Yeong-Cheol	KOR	57.74	27.15 (3)	30.59 (6)
6	–	Tsang Yi Ming	HKG	57.84	27.33 (4)	30.51 (5)
DNS	–	Matjaž Kozelj	YUG	–	– (–)	–

Heat #4

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	David Wilson	AUS	55.54	26.56 (2)	28.98 (1)
2	–	Yukinori Tanaka	JPN	56.19	26.30 (1)	29.89 (5)
3	–	Ross Anderson	NZL	56.31	26.57 (3)	29.74 (3)
4	–	Eduardo Poli	BRA	56.37	27.25 (7)	29.12 (2)
5	–	Théophile David	SUI	56.77	26.97 (6)	29.80 (4)
6	–	Ang Peng Siong	SGP	57.41	26.95 (5)	30.46 (6)
7	–	Carlos Romo	MEX	58.04	26.92 (4)	31.12 (7)
DNS	–	Michael Adam	AUT	–	– (–)	–

Heat #5

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Andy Jameson	GBR	53.34	25.18 (1)	28.16 (1)	Q
2	–	Tom Ponting	CAN	54.31	25.70 (=4)	28.61 (2)	Q
3	–	Anthony Mosse	NZL	54.63	25.50 (3)	29.13 (6)	q
4	–	Vlastimil Cerny	CAN	54.66	25.70 (=4)	28.96 (5)	q
5	–	Zheng Jian	CHN	54.69	25.27 (2)	29.42 (7)	q
6	–	Rafał Szukała	POL	54.83	26.07 (6)	28.76 (4)	q
7	–	Shen Jianqiang	CHN	54.86	26.13 (7)	28.73 (3)	q
8	–	Valerio Giambalvo	ITA	56.57	26.80 (8)	29.77 (8)

Heat #6

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Anthony Nesty	SUR	53.50	25.57 (3)	27.93 (1)	Q
2	–	Vadim Yaroshchuk	URS	54.17	25.10 (1)	29.07 (4)	Q
3	–	Jay Mortenson	USA	54.44	25.68 (4)	28.76 (2)	Q
4	–	Neil Cochran	GBR	54.75	25.77 (5)	28.98 (3)	q
5	–	José Luis Ballester	ESP	55.27	25.84 (6)	29.43 (5)
6	–	Leonardo Michelotti	ITA	55.83	26.14 (7)	29.69 (6)
7	–	Konstantin Petrov	URS	55.84	25.54 (2)	30.30 (8)
8	–	Ludovic Dépickère	FRA	56.47	26.36 (8)	30.11 (7)

Heat #7

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Matt Biondi	USA	53.46	24.81 (1)	28.65 (2)	Q
2	–	Michael Groß	FRG	53.78	25.05 (2)	28.73 (3)	Q
3	–	Jon Sieben	AUS	53.85	25.44 (3)	28.41 (1)	Q
4	–	Benny Nielsen	DEN	54.52	25.75 (5)	28.77 (4)	q
5	–	Hiroshi Miura	JPN	54.82	26.03 (8)	28.79 (5)	q
6	–	Martin Herrmann	FRG	55.20	25.92 (6)	29.28 (6)
7	–	Frank Drost	NED	55.38	25.95 (7)	29.43 (7)
8	–	Robert Wolf	TCH	55.73	25.67 (4)	30.06 (8)

B Final

Date	21 September 1988 — 12:00

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Shen Jianqiang	CHN	54.52	25.83 (5)	28.69 (1)
2	–	Anthony Mosse	NZL	54.63	25.78 (3)	28.85 (2)
3	–	Benny Nielsen	DEN	54.77	25.49 (1)	29.28 (6)
4	–	Vlastimil Cerny	CAN	54.79	25.81 (4)	28.98 (4)
5	–	Rafał Szukała	POL	54.80	25.90 (7)	28.90 (3)
6	–	Hiroshi Miura	JPN	54.98	25.97 (8)	29.01 (5)
7	–	Zheng Jian	CHN	55.05	25.76 (2)	29.29 (7)
8	–	Neil Cochran	GBR	55.22	25.84 (6)	29.38 (8)

Final Round

Date	21 September 1988 — 12:00

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Anthony Nesty	SUR	53.00	25.02 (5)	27.98 (1)	OR
2	–	Matt Biondi	USA	53.01	24.53 (1)	28.48 (4)
3	–	Andy Jameson	GBR	53.30	25.00 (3)	28.30 (2)
4	–	Jon Sieben	AUS	53.33	24.75 (2)	28.58 (5)
5	–	Michael Groß	FRG	53.44	25.01 (4)	28.43 (3)
6	–	Jay Mortenson	USA	54.07	25.20 (7)	28.87 (7)
7	–	Tom Ponting	CAN	54.09	25.29 (8)	28.80 (6)
8	–	Vadim Yaroshchuk	URS	54.60	25.14 (6)	29.46 (8)