Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom holds the 14 fastest times in history in the 50 fly as she is the heavy favorite to win the gold in this event. She has won the last two world titles and is looking to be the first woman to win the 50 world title three times. Since the event’s introduction in 2001, no woman has ever won the 50 fly three times, with Sjostrom and Inge de Bruijn winning twice. Sjostrom is a popular pick to win for a third time, but can anyone take her down?
Egypt’s Farida Osman is second in the world with a 25.65 from the TYR Pro Swim Series in April and has shown she has some serious speed. Osman was the bronze medalist in Budapest two years ago and was the first Egyptian to win a swimming medal at the World Championships.
Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands is another popular pick for a medal as she was the silver medalist in 2017 and also won the bronze in 2013. She is approaching her 29th birthday but the 2012 Olympic champion in the sprint freestyles still has plenty of speed. Her 25.98 from April is off her best time of 25.38 from 2017, but Kromowidjojo has the pedigree to reach the podium.
Sweden’s Louise Hansson has come into her own in long course after three solid years of swimming at Southern Cal. She won three NCAA titles in her career, including the fastest 100 fly in yards. She is high on the world rankings list with a 25.84 that she swam two weeks after NCAAs. Hansson has been on the Swedish national team for a few years but has finally shown she is more than just a relay swimmer. She might be better fit for the 100 fly but she will have an outside shot at a medal in the shorter distance.
USA’s Kelsi Dahlia should not be counted out in the 50 fly either. She broke the American Record on the way to a fourth place finish in Budapest two years ago. Dahlia has been a 25.87 this summer, which is her second best in-season swim of her career, only behind her 25.74 in Mesa from 2018. Dahlia has the strength and speed to win a medal here, but will have her hands full with the aforementioned swimmers.
Denmark’s Emilie Beckmann has never made a final at the World Championships but comes in as a medal contender. She comes in with a 25.85 season best, which puts her sixth in the world. She missed the final in Budapest with a 10th place finish and the 22-year-old could find herself on the podium.
Current Records:
World Record: 24.43, Sarah Sjostrom, SWE – 2014
Championships Record: 24.60, Sarah Sjostrom, SWE – 2017
American Record: 25.48, Kelsi Dahlia – 2017, 2018
2017 World Champion: Sarah Sjostrom, SWE – 24.60
2018 Fastest Time: Sarah Sjostrom, SWE – 25.07
2019 Fastest Times:
- 25.32, Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
- 25.65, Farida Osman, EGY
- 25.84, Louise Hansson, SWE
- 25.85, Emilie Beckmann, DEN
- 25.87, Kelsi Dahlia, USA
- 25.90, Marie Wattel, FRA
- 25.98, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED
- 26.00, Penny Oleksiak, CAN
Swimming World’s team of Andy Ross, Dan D’Addona, David Rieder, Diana Pimer and Taylor Covington will be selecting their choices for the medals at World Championships in each event. Read below who everybody picked.
Andy’s Picks:
- Sarah Sjostrom
- Farida Osman
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo
Dan’s Picks:
- Sarah Sjostrom
- Farida Osman
- Louise Hansson
David’s Picks:
- Sarah Sjostrom
- Farida Osman
- Louise Hansson
Diana’s Picks:
- Sarah Sjostrom
- Farida Osman
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo
Taylor’s Picks:
- Sarah Sjostrom
- Farida Osman
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo
2019 FINA World Championships Predictions:
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6: