Day 3 Finals Stay Recap

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Right here we go: day 3 finals of the 2024 Olympics! Like this morning’s prelims session, tonight’s finals are a bit lighter, each by way of the occasions swum and the time of the session. There will likely be 5 finals swum tonight and 1 semifinal, with the whole time of the session projected to be lower than 90 minutes.

DAY 3 FINALS SCHEDULE

• Ladies’s 400 IM – Closing
• Males’s 200 Freestyle – Closing
• Ladies’s 100 Backstroke – Semifinals
• Males’s 100 Backstroke – Closing
• Ladies’s 100 Breaststroke – Closing
• Ladies’s 200 Freestyle – Closing

Tonight’s finals session ought to kick off with a bang, as Canadian teenage phenom Summer season McIntosh will likely be up first within the girls’s 400 IM. McIntosh has been dominant on this occasion over the previous two years, having damaged the World File a number of instances, most lately on the Canadian Trials this spring. Although she is seeded third tonight, make no mistake, she’s far and away the favourite tonight.

Following McIntosh and firm within the 400 IM, Romanian David Popovici will likely be seeking to win his first Olympic gold medal within the males’s 200 free. Popovici, who’s one among just a few males in historical past to have gone beneath 1:43 within the occasion, seemed robust in semifinals final evening, swimming the highest time of 1:44.53.

China’s Xu Jiayu was the one swimmer who fared notably nicely within the semifinals of the lads’s 100 again final evening, placing up a strong swim of 52.02. He was the one swimmer beneath 52.5 final evening, however he has his work minimize out for him, as this remaining of the lads’s 100 again is extraordinarily robust. World File holder Thomas Ceccon and Olympic Champion Ryan Murphy are two names to maintain an in depth eye on tonight as nicely.

American Lilly King will likely be seeking to reclaim her Olympic crown within the girls’s 100 breaststroke tonight after incomes Bronze within the occasion again in Tokyo. King, the World File holder within the occasion (1:04.13), got here in 2nd in semifinals final evening, swimming a 1:05.64. It was South Africa’s Tatjana Smith who clocked the highest time, swimming a 1:05.00. Smith, previously Tatjana Schoenmaker, earned the silver medal on this occasion again in Tokyo.

The evening will conclude with the ladies’s 200 freestyle, which is certain to be an exceptional race. The pair of Aussies within the race, Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan, are the 2 quickest swimmers in historical past within the occasion, with Titmus holding the World File at 1:52.23. Titmus led semis final evening in 1:54.64, whereas O’Callaghan was a hair behind in 1:54.70.

WOMEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY — FINALS

1. Summer season McIntosh (CAN) – 4:27.71
2. Katie Grimes (USA) – 4:33.40
3. Emma Weyant (USA) – 4:34.93
4. Freya Colbert (GBR) – 4:35.67
5. Ella Ramsey (AUS) – 4:38.01
6. Mio Narita (JPN) – 4:38.83
7. Katie Shanahan (GBR) – 4:40.17
8. Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 4:40.70

The ladies’s 400 IM noticed Summer season McIntosh bounce out the lead instantly and by no means look again. She was distinctive from begin to end, splitting 58.50 on fly, 1:07.09 on again, 1:19.36 on breast, and 1:02.76 on free, for a 4:27.71. Whereas that point was nicely off McIntosh’s World File of two:24.38 from earlier this yr, she nonetheless dominated this Olympic remaining by nicely over 5 seconds.

American Katie Grimes established herself because the silver medalist from the start as nicely, going out simply behind McIntosh. Grimes was 59.85 on fly and 1:07.30 on again, which put her into the 200m flip jut 1.56 seconds behind McIntosh and almost 5 seconds forward of the next-closest swimmer. Breaststroke is Grimes weak spot, nonetheless, however to her credit score she clocked a 1:22.76 on that leg tonight, hanging firmly within the 2nd place. A 1:03.49 coming dwelling a lot for her to seal the deal and win the silver medal.

Fellow American Emma Weyant was in a dogfight for mainly your complete race, however managed to wind up on the rostrum. Weyant was fifth on the 200m flip, however a 1:18.59 on the breaststroke moved her into 4th, and the 1:02.20 free break up was the quickest within the discipline tonight and sufficient for her to get her hand on the wall third.

MEN’S 200-METER FREESTYLE – FINALS

1. David Popovici (ROU) – 1:44.72
2. Matt Richards (GBR) – 1:44.74
3. Luke Hobson (USA) – 1:44.79
4. Duncan Scott (GBR) – 1:44.87
5. Lukas Martens (GER) – 1:45.46 (TIE)
6. Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 1:45.46 (TIE)
7. Maximillian Giuliani (AUS) – 1:45.57
8. Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN) – 1:46.26

In a wild end, Romania’s David Popovici obtained his hand on the wall first to win his first Olympic gold of his profession. The teen was nicely off his profession better of 1:42.97, however it doesn’t matter, as he managed to drag out the win for himself and his nation. He was out 2nd, splitting 24.10 on the opening 50m, then went 27.02 on the 2nd 50 earlier than clocking 26.86 and 26.74 coming dwelling.

American Luke Hobson seemed like he had the win locked up, as he got here off the ultimate flip within the lead with an awesome breakout. Nonetheless, Nice Britain’s Matt Richards and Popovici each rapidly evened issues out, and the trio tore into the end. Unable to inform who touched the wall first by the bare eye, the display instructed us what we would have liked to know: Popovici 1st, Richards 2nd, Hobson third, separated by simply 0.07 seconds.

Fellow British swimmer Duncan Scott was additionally proper there within the combine, taking 4th with a 1:44.87. Scott was sitting in fifth via the 150m flip however managed to show it on coming dwelling and pull into 4th.

Germany’s Lukas Martens was out with the lead, splitting a 50.52 on the opening 100m. He couldn’t maintain on, nonetheless, and pale to fifth down the stretch.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE—SEMIFINALS

1. Regan Smith (USA) – 57.97
2. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 57.99
3. Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 58.27
4. Iona Anderson (AUS) – 58.63
5. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 58.82
6. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 59.10
7. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 59.29
8. Emma Terebo (FRA) – 59.50

American Regan Smith seemed clean and in management as she sped to victory within the 1st semifinals warmth of the ladies’s 100 again tonight. She pulled distant from the warmth on the 2nd 50 of the race, going from being within the lead by simply 0.05 seconds on the flip, to successful the warmth by 0.85 seconds. She was out in 28.19 and residential in 29.78, which was good for a 57.97 and the X seed for tomorrow evening’s remaining.

Smith and Australia Kaylee McKeown have been in a back-and-forth battle with the World File for a couple of years. Smith at present holds the WR with a 57.13, a time she clocked on the US Olympic Trials final month.

McKeown would go within the 2nd warmth of semis, which she would win in a good race with American Katharine Berkoff. McKeown clocked a 57.99, simply 0.02 seconds off Smith’s time from the first warmth. Berkoff could be proper behind, touching 2nd in that warmth with a 58.27. Berkoff swam a 57.99 in prelims this morning, which suggests we have now what must be an superior remaining arrange for tomorrow evening.

Australia’s 2nd swimmer, Iona Anderson, was proper within the combine in that 2nd warmth as nicely, swimming a 58.63. She superior because the 4th seed for tomorrow evening with a really robust swim this night. Canadian Kylie Masse, who previously held the World File within the occasion, got here in fifth total with a 58.82.

France managed to get each their swim. Beryl Gastaldello got here in seventh with a 59.29, whereas Emma Terebo clocked a 59.50 for eighth.

MEN’S 100-METER BACKSTROKE – FINALS

1. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 52.00
2. Xu Jiayu (CHN) – 52.32
3. Ryan Murphy (USA) – 52.39
4. Apostolos Christou (GRE) – 52.41
5. Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 52.58
6. Hugo Gonzalez (ESP) – 52.73
7. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 52.77
8. Oliver Morgan (GBR) – 52.84

Following their gold medal efficiency within the males’s 100 breast final evening, Italy managed to choose up one other gold right here tonight, as Thomas Ceccon claimed victory within the males’s 100 again. It was as tight of a race as anticipated, seeing the the entire warmth bunched up virtually from begin to end. Ceccon had the quickest 2nd 50 break up within the discipline by far, roaring dwelling in a shocking 26.90.

It was China’s Xu Jiayu who obtained out the quickest, splitting 24.88 on the opening 50m, which was the one 1st 50 beneath 25 seconds. He was the quickest in semifinals final evening, the place he clocked a 52.02 to earn the highest seed for this race. He was off that point tonight, however he nonetheless earned the silver medal with a 52.32.

American Ryan Murphy earned the bronze medal with a 52.39. There was a second the place it seemed just like the veteran might be able to get it donw as soon as once more. He flipped in 2nd with a 25.04 on the flip, then got here out with the most effective underwaters and breakout within the discipline. He had edged into the lead via the primary half of the 2nd 50, nonetheless, the remainder of the sector closed on him on the finish of the race. Murphy provides one other medal to his profession tally, nonetheless, the American win streak within the males’s 100 again has now come to an finish.

Greece’s Apostolos Christou clocked a 52.41, ending simply off the medal stand by 0.02 seconds.

In the meantime, South Africa’s Pieter Coetze clocked a brand new African File along with his swim of 52.58. He got here in fifth tonight.

WOMEN’S 100-METER BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World File: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• World Junior File: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
• Olympic File: 1:04.82 – Tatjana Smith (Schoenmaker), RSA (2021)
• 2021 Profitable Time: 1:04.95 – Lydia Jacoby, USA
• 2021 Bronze Medal Time: 1:05.54

1. Tatjana Smith (RSA) – 1:05.28
2. Tang Qianting (CHN) – 1:05.54
3. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 1:05.59
4. Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 1:05.60 (TIE)
5. Lilly King (USA) – 1:05.60 (TIE)
6. Angharad Evans (GBR) – 1:05.85
7. Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 1:06.50
8. Alina Zmushka (AIN) – 1:06.54

The ladies’s 100 breast remaining was simply as tight as the lads’s 100 again was main into it. In the long run, South Africa’s Tatjana Smith earned South Africa’s first gold medal of those Olympics, clocking a 1:05.28. The efficiency comes after Smith, previously Tatjana Schoenmaker, earned silver within the occasion again in Tokyo. She put collectively an awesome race, splitting 30.62 on the opening 50m, then got here dwelling in 34.66, which is what earned her the win. Smith additionally holds the Olympic File on this occasion with the 1:04.82 she clocked in semifinals in Tokyo 3 years in the past.

In an uncommon flip of occasions, it was American Lilly King who put up the quickest 2nd 50 within the discipline tonight. King, who’s often out very quick, turned in seventh on the 50m mark tonight with a 31.00. She then kicked it into overdrive, tearing dwelling in 34.60. Sadly for the World File holder, it was simply barely not sufficient, and he or she would end in a tie for 4th with Italy’s Benedetta Pilato. Each swimmers touched in 1:05.60, which was simply 0.01 seconds off the medal stand.

China picked up their 2nd-straight silver medal tonight, as Tang Qianting completed 2nd with a 1:05.54. She was out quick, splitting 29.94 on the opening 50m, which was far and away the quickest break up within the discipline. She then got here dwelling in 35.60, which was the 2nd-slowest break up within the discipline, nonetheless, it didn’t matter, as she was in a position to maintain on for silver.

Eire grabbed the bronze tonight as Mona McSharry obtained her fingers on the wall in 1:05.59. She touched out each Pilato and King by 0.01 seconds.

WOMEN’S 200-METER FREESTYLE – FINALS

1. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 1:53.27 (Olympic File)
2. Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 1:53.81
3. Siobhan Haughey (HGK) – 1:54.55
4. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) – 1:55.29
5. Yang Junxuan (CHN) – 1:5.38
6. Barbora Semanova (CZE) – 1:55.47
7. Erika Fairweather (NZL) – 1:55.59
8. Claire Weinstein (USA) – 1:56.60

As anticipated, Australia went 1-2 within the girls’s 200 freestyle tonight. Although ultimately, Mollie O’Callaghan was the clear winner, there was an extended stretch within the race the place it didn’t seem to be the Aussies would possibly get it executed. O’Callaghan performed to her strengths, racing a extra conservative type. She was out in 56.07 on the 100m flip, which was fifth within the discipline. She then moved into third on the third 50 with a 29.22 break up earlier than actually turning it on and screaming dwelling in a blistering 27.98. Her remaining 50 was the quickest within the discipline by nicely over half a second, propelling her to gold.

Teammate Ariarne Titmus swam an identical race to O’Callaghan, however simply didn’t have fairly the identical closing velocity. Titmus was out in 55.88 on the primary 100m, which was 2nd, although simply 0.19 seconds forward of O’Callaghan. She then clocked a 29.29 on the third 50, matching O’Callaghan’s break up. The distinction was that Titmus got here dwelling in 28.64, which was a lot quick for her to drag away from Siobhan Haughey, however not quick sufficient to beat out MOC.

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey was the explanation the Aussie domination was in query for a minute there. The 26-year-old seemed so robust via the 150m of the race. She was out in 55.70 on the opening 100, which was the quickest break up within the discipline. She then clocked a 29.27 on the third 50, going hand-in-hand with MOC and Titmus’ 29.2s. Haughey simply couldn’t match the Aussies’ velocity on the ultimate 50, coming dwelling in 29.58, which was nonetheless good for bronze. The efficiency marks Hong Kong’s first medal of those Olympics and solely their third swimming medal ever. Haughey has gained all 3 of these medals.

Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey had an distinctive swim for 4th tonight, dashing to a 1:55.29. She’s been steadily bettering for years now to the purpose the place she is now on the cusp of an Olympic medal. She swam a really constant race, splitting 27.49, 29.15, 29.41, and 29.24 respectively by 50.