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Olympics: Emma McKeon Breaks Olympic Record in 50 Freestyle As Seven Medals Within Reach
About eight hours removed from capturing the first individual title of her Olympic career, Emma McKeon made it clear she is stalking a second solo crown at the Tokyo Games. The Australian star, who won the 100-meter freestyle on Friday morning, set an Olympic record in the 50 freestyle during the evening session. McKeon rocketed to a time of 24.02, which bettered the 24.05 that the Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo posted en route to the gold medal at the 2012 Games in London.
McKeon already has four medals at these Games – two gold and two bronze. With the 50 freestyle to come, along with the mixed medley relay and 400 medley relay, the possibility exists for McKeon to win seven medals. No female swimmer has ever won seven Olympic medals at a single Games, with Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi the only men to accomplish the feat.
Earning the second seed for the semifinals was Denmark’s Pernille Blume, the reigning champion in the event. Blume touched the wall in 24.12, finishing just ahead of Aussie Cate Campbell (24.15) in her heat. Campbell was coming off a bronze-medal showing in the 100 freestyle. In the fourth spot heading into the semifinals was Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who went 24.26 and is seeking her first medal of the Games after making finals appearances in the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle.
Poland’s Kasia Wasick (24.31) and China’s Zhang Yufei (24.36) took fifth and sixth, with the top eight rounded out by American Abbey Weitzeil (24.37) and Kromowidjojo (24.41).
Women’s 50 Freestyle
World Record: Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden, 23.67 (2017)
Olympic Record: Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Netherlands, 24.05 (2012)
Semifinalists
1. Emma McKeon (Australia) 24.02
2. Pernille Blume (Denmark) 24.12
3. Cate Campbell (Australia) 24.15
4. Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) 24.26
5. Kasia Wasick (Poland) 24.31
6. Zhang Yufei (China) 24.36
7. Abbey Weitzeil (United States) 24.37
8. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands) 24.41
9. Arina Surkova (Russia) 24.52
10. Wu Qingfeng (China) 24.55
11. Simone Manuel (United States) 24.65
11. Emma Chelius (South Africa) 24.65
13. Melanie Henique (France) 24.69
14. Julie Jensen (Denmark) 24.70
15. Siobhan Haughey (South Africa) 24.75
16. Femke Heemskerk (Netherlands) 24.77
