| | Event type

100 metres Freestyle, Women

Date	18 – 19 August 2004
Status	Olympic
Location	Olympiako Kentro Ugrou Stivou, Olympiako Athletiko Kentro Athinon Spiros Loues, Athina (Main Pool)
Participants	50 from 44 countries

For the first time in a number of Olympic Games, the women’s 100 metres freestyle looked to be an open event. Inge de Bruijn returned as defending champion but not as world record holder because of the performance of Libby Lenton in the semi-finals of the Australian Olympic Trials. Also favoured to challenge were World Champion Hanna-Maria Seppälä of Finland, Pan-Pacific title holder Natalie Coughlin, newly crowned European Champ Malia Metella of France and Jodie Henry who had defeated Lenton in the final of the Australian trials.

The semi-finals were, to say the least, eventful as Henry established herself as favourite by taking a chunk out of Lenton’s world record. Lenton herself failed to live to expectations and, along with Seppälä, was forced to exit before even reaching the final.

Henry made a poor start to the final and trailed the field in the early stages. Recovering to fifth at 50 metres the Australian took the lead at the three-quarter mark and held off the challenge of de Bruijn to record a first Aussie win in the event since the glory days of Dawn Fraser 40 years earlier with Coughlin filling up the final place on the victory podium.

Pos	Competitor	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Jodie Henry	AUS	55.13 (2 h6)	53.52 (1 h2)	53.84 (1)	Gold
2	Inge de Bruijn	NED	54.43 (1 h5)	54.06 (2 h2)	54.16 (2)	Silver
3	Natalie Coughlin	USA	54.82 (1 h7)	54.37 (3 h2)	54.40 (3)	Bronze
4	Malia Metella	FRA	55.08 (1 h6)	54.57 (4 h2)	54.50 (4)
5	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	54.53 (2 h5)	54.81 (1 h1)	54.54 (5)
6	Neri Niagkouara	GRE	55.12 (3 h7)	55.02 (3 h1)	54.81 (6)
7	Martina Moravcová	SVK	55.17 (4 h7)	55.08 (4 h1)	55.12 (7)
8	Alena Popchanka	BLR	55.49 (3 h6)	54.97 (2 h1)	55.24 (8)
9	Libby Lenton	AUS	54.89 (2 h7)	55.17 (5 h1)	–
10	Federica Pellegrini	ITA	55.41 (5 h7)	55.30 (5 h2)	–
11	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	55.81 (4 h5)	55.32 (6 h1)	–
12	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	56.01 (5 h6)	55.59 (6 h2)	–
13	Hanna Shcherba	BLR	56.01 (1 h4)	55.67 (7 h1)	–
14	Josefin Lillhage	SWE	55.87 (5 h5)	55.76 (7 h2)	–
15	Ryu Yun-Ji	KOR	56.02 (6 h6)	55.85 (8 h1)	–
16	Tomoko Nagai	JPN	55.76 (3 h5)	56.03 (8 h2)	–
17	Franziska van Almsick	GER	55.57 (4 h6)	–	–		1
18	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	56.17 (2 h4)	–	–
19	Paulina Barzycka	POL	56.20 (6 h7)	–	–
20	Rebeca Gusmão	BRA	56.26 (7 h6)	–	–
21	Alison Fitch	NZL	56.29 (3 h4)	–	–
22	Cheng Jiaru	CHN	56.39 (8 h6)	–	–
23	Jana Myšková	CZE	56.59 (7 h7)	–	–
=24	Xu Yanwei	CHN	56.66 (8 h7)	–	–
=24	Johanna Sjöberg	SWE	56.66 (6 h5)	–	–
=26	Sara Isakovič	SLO	56.67 (4 h4)	–	–
=26	Dominique Diezi	SUI	56.67 (1 h3)	–	–
28	Florencia Szigeti	ARG	56.71 (7 h5)	–	–
29	Arlene Semeco	VEN	57.04 (2 h3)	–	–
30	Eileen Marie Coparropa	PAN	57.09 (5 h4)	–	–
31	Olha Mukomol	UKR	57.12 (6 h4)	–	–
32	Anya Gostomelsky	ISR	57.15 (7 h4)	–	–
33	Judith Draxler	AUT	57.29 (3 h3)	–	–
34	Hannah Wilson	HKG	57.33 (4 h3)	–	–
35	Vanessa García	PUR	57.38 (1 h2)	–	–
36	Lara Heinz	LUX	57.40 (5 h3)	–	–
37	Jana Kolukanova	EST	57.45 (8 h4)	–	–
38	Ágnes Mutina	HUN	58.10 (6 h3)	–	–
39	Angela Chuck	JAM	58.33 (7 h3)	–	–
40	Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir	ISL	58.47 (8 h3)	–	–
41	Yelena Skalinskaya	KAZ	58.56 (2 h2)	–	–
42	Linda McEachrane	TTO	58.92 (3 h2)	–	–
43	Agnese Ozoliņa	LAT	59.03 (4 h2)	–	–
44	Sung Yi-Chieh	TPE	59.18 (5 h2)	–	–
45	Irina Shlemova	UZB	59.21 (6 h2)	–	–
46	Shikha Tandon	IND	59.70 (7 h2)	–	–
47	Nicoleta Coica	MDA	59.85 (8 h2)	–	–
48	Carolina Cerqueda	AND	1:00.38 (1 h1)	–	–
49	Larissa Inangorore	BDI	1:23.90 (2 h1)	–	–
50	Gloria Koussihouede	BEN	1:30.90 (3 h1)	–	–
DNS	Melanie Marshall	GBR	– (DNS h5)	–	–

Round One

Date	18 August 2004
Format	Fastest 16 advanced to the semi-finals.

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Inge de Bruijn	NED	54.43	Q
2	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	54.53	Q
3	–	Natalie Coughlin	USA	54.82	Q
4	–	Libby Lenton	AUS	54.89	Q
5	–	Malia Metella	FRA	55.08	Q
6	–	Neri Niagkouara	GRE	55.12	Q
7	–	Jodie Henry	AUS	55.13	Q
8	–	Martina Moravcová	SVK	55.17	Q
9	–	Federica Pellegrini	ITA	55.41	Q
10	–	Alena Popchanka	BLR	55.49	Q
11	–	Franziska van Almsick	GER	55.57	Q
12	–	Tomoko Nagai	JPN	55.76	Q
13	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	55.81	Q
14	–	Josefin Lillhage	SWE	55.87	Q
=15	–	Hanna Shcherba	BLR	56.01	Q
=15	–	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	56.01	Q
17	–	Ryu Yun-Ji	KOR	56.02	q
18	–	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	56.17
19	–	Paulina Barzycka	POL	56.20
20	–	Rebeca Gusmão	BRA	56.26
21	–	Alison Fitch	NZL	56.29
22	–	Cheng Jiaru	CHN	56.39
23	–	Jana Myšková	CZE	56.59
=24	–	Johanna Sjöberg	SWE	56.66
=24	–	Xu Yanwei	CHN	56.66
=26	–	Dominique Diezi	SUI	56.67
=26	–	Sara Isakovič	SLO	56.67
28	–	Florencia Szigeti	ARG	56.71
29	–	Arlene Semeco	VEN	57.04
30	–	Eileen Marie Coparropa	PAN	57.09
31	–	Olha Mukomol	UKR	57.12
32	–	Anya Gostomelsky	ISR	57.15
33	–	Judith Draxler	AUT	57.29
34	–	Hannah Wilson	HKG	57.33
35	–	Vanessa García	PUR	57.38
36	–	Lara Heinz	LUX	57.40
37	–	Jana Kolukanova	EST	57.45
38	–	Ágnes Mutina	HUN	58.10
39	–	Angela Chuck	JAM	58.33
40	–	Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir	ISL	58.47
41	–	Yelena Skalinskaya	KAZ	58.56
42	–	Linda McEachrane	TTO	58.92
43	–	Agnese Ozoliņa	LAT	59.03
44	–	Sung Yi-Chieh	TPE	59.18
45	–	Irina Shlemova	UZB	59.21
46	–	Shikha Tandon	IND	59.70
47	–	Nicoleta Coica	MDA	59.85
48	–	Carolina Cerqueda	AND	1:00.38
49	–	Larissa Inangorore	BDI	1:23.90
50	–	Gloria Koussihouede	BEN	1:30.90
DNS	–	Melanie Marshall	GBR	–

Heat #1

Time	10:00

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Carolina Cerqueda	AND	1:00.38	0.75	29.15 (1)	31.23 (1)
2	–	Larissa Inangorore	BDI	1:23.90	0.86	37.88 (2)	46.02 (2)
3	–	Gloria Koussihouede	BEN	1:30.90	1.04	40.39 (3)	50.51 (3)

Heat #2

Time	10:03

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Vanessa García	PUR	57.38	0.72	26.99 (1)	30.39 (1)
2	–	Yelena Skalinskaya	KAZ	58.56	0.92	27.73 (2)	30.83 (4)
3	–	Linda McEachrane	TTO	58.92	0.78	28.18 (5)	30.74 (3)
4	–	Agnese Ozoliņa	LAT	59.03	0.78	28.14 (4)	30.89 (5)
5	–	Sung Yi-Chieh	TPE	59.18	0.95	28.75 (8)	30.43 (2)
6	–	Irina Shlemova	UZB	59.21	0.80	28.19 (6)	31.02 (6)
7	–	Shikha Tandon	IND	59.70	0.82	28.31 (7)	31.39 (7)
8	–	Nicoleta Coica	MDA	59.85	0.89	27.98 (3)	31.87 (8)

Heat #3

Time	10:07

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Dominique Diezi	SUI	56.67	0.77	27.27 (2)	29.40 (1)
2	–	Arlene Semeco	VEN	57.04	0.77	27.24 (1)	29.80 (3)
3	–	Judith Draxler	AUT	57.29	0.80	27.43 (3)	29.86 (4)
4	–	Hannah Wilson	HKG	57.33	0.76	27.44 (4)	29.89 (5)
5	–	Lara Heinz	LUX	57.40	0.86	27.77 (6)	29.63 (2)
6	–	Ágnes Mutina	HUN	58.10	0.68	28.18 (7)	29.92 (6)
7	–	Angela Chuck	JAM	58.33	0.68	28.23 (8)	30.10 (7)
8	–	Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir	ISL	58.47	0.83	27.55 (5)	30.92 (8)

Heat #4

Time	10:10

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Hanna Shcherba	BLR	56.01	0.73	27.26 (2)	28.75 (2)	Q
2	–	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	56.17	0.75	27.07 (1)	29.10 (3)
3	–	Alison Fitch	NZL	56.29	0.87	27.98 (8)	28.31 (1)
4	–	Sara Isakovič	SLO	56.67	0.85	27.56 (6)	29.11 (4)
5	–	Eileen Marie Coparropa	PAN	57.09	0.76	27.45 (5)	29.64 (6)
6	–	Olha Mukomol	UKR	57.12	0.88	27.29 (4)	29.83 (7)
7	–	Anya Gostomelsky	ISR	57.15	0.74	27.61 (7)	29.54 (5)
8	–	Jana Kolukanova	EST	57.45	0.86	27.28 (3)	30.17 (8)

Heat #5

Time	10:13

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Inge de Bruijn	NED	54.43	0.73	26.17 (1)	28.26 (2)	Q
2	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	54.53	0.71	26.71 (2)	27.82 (1)	Q
3	–	Tomoko Nagai	JPN	55.76	0.76	27.03 (4)	28.73 (4)	Q
4	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	55.81	0.84	27.24 (6)	28.57 (3)	Q
5	–	Josefin Lillhage	SWE	55.87	0.81	27.09 (5)	28.78 (5)	Q
6	–	Johanna Sjöberg	SWE	56.66	0.89	26.95 (3)	29.71 (7)
7	–	Florencia Szigeti	ARG	56.71	0.63	27.36 (7)	29.35 (6)
DNS	–	Melanie Marshall	GBR	–	–	– (–)	–

Heat #6

Time	10:16

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Malia Metella	FRA	55.08	0.77	26.95 (1)	28.13 (2)	Q
2	–	Jodie Henry	AUS	55.13	0.82	27.18 (=3)	27.95 (1)	Q
3	–	Alena Popchanka	BLR	55.49	0.69	27.18 (=3)	28.31 (3)	Q
4	–	Franziska van Almsick	GER	55.57	0.83	27.21 (5)	28.36 (4)	Q
5	–	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	56.01	0.76	27.22 (6)	28.79 (5)	Q
6	–	Ryu Yun-Ji	KOR	56.02	0.81	27.11 (2)	28.91 (7)	q
7	–	Rebeca Gusmão	BRA	56.26	0.70	27.42 (8)	28.84 (6)
8	–	Cheng Jiaru	CHN	56.39	0.78	27.24 (7)	29.15 (8)

Heat #7

Time	10:19

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Natalie Coughlin	USA	54.82	0.69	26.55 (3)	28.27 (1)	Q
2	–	Libby Lenton	AUS	54.89	0.77	26.46 (2)	28.43 (3)	Q
3	–	Neri Niagkouara	GRE	55.12	0.78	26.40 (1)	28.72 (5)	Q
4	–	Martina Moravcová	SVK	55.17	0.73	26.72 (4)	28.45 (4)	Q
5	–	Federica Pellegrini	ITA	55.41	0.84	27.03 (6)	28.38 (2)	Q
6	–	Paulina Barzycka	POL	56.20	0.86	27.38 (8)	28.82 (6)
7	–	Jana Myšková	CZE	56.59	0.87	27.18 (7)	29.41 (7)
8	–	Xu Yanwei	CHN	56.66	0.73	26.75 (5)	29.91 (8)

Semi-Finals

Date	18 August 2004
Format	Fastest eight advanced to the final.

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Jodie Henry	AUS	53.52	QWR
2	–	Inge de Bruijn	NED	54.06	Q
3	–	Natalie Coughlin	USA	54.37	Q
4	–	Malia Metella	FRA	54.57	Q
5	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	54.81	Q
6	–	Alena Popchanka	BLR	54.97	Q
7	–	Neri Niagkouara	GRE	55.02	Q
8	–	Martina Moravcová	SVK	55.08	Q
9	–	Libby Lenton	AUS	55.17
10	–	Federica Pellegrini	ITA	55.30
11	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	55.32
12	–	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	55.59
13	–	Hanna Shcherba	BLR	55.67
14	–	Josefin Lillhage	SWE	55.76
15	–	Ryu Yun-Ji	KOR	55.85
16	–	Tomoko Nagai	JPN	56.03

Heat #1

Time	19:39

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	54.81	0.71	26.61 (4)	28.20 (1)	Q
2	–	Alena Popchanka	BLR	54.97	0.72	26.48 (2)	28.49 (5)	Q
3	–	Neri Niagkouara	GRE	55.02	0.74	26.20 (1)	28.82 (7)	Q
4	–	Martina Moravcová	SVK	55.08	0.74	26.74 (6)	28.34 (2)	Q
5	–	Libby Lenton	AUS	55.17	0.77	26.73 (5)	28.44 (3)
6	–	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	55.32	0.84	26.87 (7)	28.45 (4)
7	–	Hanna Shcherba	BLR	55.67	0.78	26.53 (3)	29.14 (8)
8	–	Ryu Yun-Ji	KOR	55.85	0.80	27.16 (8)	28.69 (6)

Heat #2

Time	19:44

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Jodie Henry	AUS	53.52	0.80	26.24 (2)	27.28 (1)	QWR
2	–	Inge de Bruijn	NED	54.06	0.72	26.12 (1)	27.94 (3)	Q
3	–	Natalie Coughlin	USA	54.37	0.69	26.31 (3)	28.06 (4)	Q
4	–	Malia Metella	FRA	54.57	0.77	26.76 (5)	27.81 (2)	Q
5	–	Federica Pellegrini	ITA	55.30	0.82	26.91 (6)	28.39 (5)
6	–	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	55.59	0.75	26.69 (4)	28.90 (7)
7	–	Josefin Lillhage	SWE	55.76	0.79	27.01 (7)	28.75 (6)
8	–	Tomoko Nagai	JPN	56.03	0.77	27.04 (8)	28.99 (8)

Final Round

Date	19 August 2004 — 20:35

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Jodie Henry	AUS	53.84	0.81	26.38 (5)	27.46 (1)
2	–	Inge de Bruijn	NED	54.16	0.74	26.12 (1)	28.04 (3)
3	–	Natalie Coughlin	USA	54.40	0.70	26.21 (2)	28.19 (=4)
4	–	Malia Metella	FRA	54.50	0.78	26.48 (6)	28.02 (2)
5	–	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	54.54	0.70	26.35 (4)	28.19 (=4)
6	–	Neri Niagkouara	GRE	54.81	0.76	26.28 (3)	28.53 (7)
7	–	Martina Moravcová	SVK	55.12	0.76	26.49 (7)	28.63 (8)
8	–	Alena Popchanka	BLR	55.24	0.72	26.83 (8)	28.41 (6)