The 50 meter freestyle is the race that has the most entries at the Olympic Games, with 73 male swimmers participating at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Source (FINA & Olympics, 2021)

It is the event that decides which swimmer will become the fastest on the planet. Certainly, it is a very exciting race to watch as a viewer, although it is even more incredible to take part in it as an athlete.

As a former high-performance swimmer, I can tell you that the margin of error is little to nothing. One most be physically and mentally prepared to have a good reaction time, be able to apply the strategy learned in all trainings and never take a breath.

 

If we analyze Florent Manaudou at the 2012 Olympics, he took 33 strokes without a single breath.

The Fastest Swimmers at the Olympics: 

Winning the 50 meter freestyle at the most prestigious sports event in the world is definitely not an easy task, therefore these men’s technique and strategy must be analyzed.

Olympics	Name	Breaths	Time	Strokes
2008 Beijing	Cesar Cielo	0	21.30 (OR)	33
2012 London	Florent Manaudou	0	21.34	33
2016 Rio	Anthony Ervin	0	21.40	34
2020 Tokyo	Caeleb Dressel	0	21.07 (OR)	36

Source: (International Olympic Committee & FINA)

Facts about the Champions: 

Ervin, the 2016 Olympic Champion, has been the “slowest” 50 meter freestyle Olympic winner in the past 2 decades. He is also the oldest male swimmer to win Olympic gold, at 35 years of age. 

Cielo won his Olympic title in Beijing in Olympic Record Time of 21.30. The following year, in Brazil, he broke his previous PB in a time of 20.91, which now stands as the current World Record.

In 2016, Florent Manaudou was 0.01 off from taking gold and becoming Double 50 Meter Freestyle Olympic Champion. He has been at the podium of this race in the past 3 Olympics (Silver Medal in Tokyo, Silver Medal in Rio and Gold Medal in London).

Caeleb Dressel is the fastest swimmer the Olympics has ever seen in the new swimsuit era (when Cielo broke the OR, he was wearing the full-body swimsuits). At the Tokyo Olympics, he won both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle.

Watch the Final of the 50 Freestyle, London 2012 

Watch the Final of the 50 Freestyle, Beijing 2008

Last update: June, 2022

As former professional and high-performance swimmer I can tell you that this sport is one of the hardest ones in the entire world. 

I have practiced other sports like football, soccer, tennis and basketball and any of them challenge me physically or mentally as swimming did. 

What is swimming? 

For me, it is a physical activity that requires a lot of skills, determination and willingness, because if none of these 3 qualities are present when you carry it out, you will never have success. 

I started swimming when I was 2 years old and since then I have realized how difficult it is to maintain a good aerobic base and anaerobic capacity that will allow you to distance yourself from your competitors. 

Another important aspect that a swimmer is always thinking about is the responsibility that it comes from being named a ‘swimmer.’ There are hundreds of hours dedicated to the sport in and outside the pool, and thousands of sacrifices; however, the reward that comes after winning a medal or representing your country is worth those sacrifices and even more.

 

Mental Benefits of Swimming: 

1. Ability to become more determined than ever: swimming prepares you mentally for any activity or situation in life. All the pain after hours of training must have a purpose. 
2. Focus: concentration is a skill that is developed and trained everyday at the pool. 
3. Never giving up: swimming prepares you mentally for the most difficult moments in life. I’m sure any swimmer can overcome situations like any other person. 

__________________________________________________________________

Physical Benefits of Swimming: 

1. Strength and conditioning: the best athletes in the world, regardless if they are swimmers or not, have incorporated aquatic activities into their training schedule. It allows muscles to grow faster, better recovery and faster development of aerobic and anaerobic capacity. 
2. Being in good and healthy shape: swimming is one of the sports that burns the most calories.When I was training two sessions a day, I was burning between 2,000 calories just in the water. 

 

Last update: May, 2022

Men’s 50 freestyle: 

Caeleb Dressel, Bruno Fratus and Kristian Gkolomeev, the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships podium in the men ‘s 50 freestyle will all be competing in Budapest again. 

Michael Andrew is definitely a threat for the podium, as well as the Jr. swimmers from Poland who are ranked within the top 5 in the world this year (NAMES) ( data from FINA, 2022)

My predictions:

1. Caeleb Dressel – 20.85 
2. Michael Andrew – 21.20 
3. Florent Manaudou – 21.23

 

Women’s 400 freestyle 

Titmus, who just broke the WR, said that she will not be competing at Worlds to focus on Commonwealth Games, which leaves former world record holder, Katie Ledecky, as the favorite to win this race. USA’s Leah Smith is favorite to the podium. She was third at the 2016 Olympics in this same race.

My predictions: 

1. Katie Ledecky – 3:56.10
2. Summer McIntosh – 3:59.90
3. Leah Smith – 4:03.40

__________________________________________________________________

Men’s 100 freestyle: 

This is probably le of the most famous and exciting races in swimming. Caeleb Dressel, the current World and Olympic Champion, enters the meet as the main favorite to win the gold. However, Olympic Champion from Rio 2016 in this event, Kyle Chalmers, will be heading to worlds after all.

After just a few weeks of training, he is a huge threat to win the gold. Let’s see if he can make it and become LCM World Champion.

My predictions: 

1. Caeleb Dressel – 47.20
2. Brooks Curry – 47.74
3. Kyle Chalmers – 47.93

 

Last update: May, 2022

FINA World Junior Open Water Championships 

Date: September 16 to September 18, 2022

Location: Beau Vallon, Seychelles

.

Mexican Qualification requirements: 

The athletes are determined based on performances rendered at the “Selectivo Unico Aguas Abiertas” , which took place on May 14 and 15 in Acapulco, Mexico.

The first 3 places were granted a direct ticket to compete at these international competitions. 

 

Women’s 10k: 

Martha Sandoval Ayala (2:08:29) took second place behind Argentina’s Mayte Alien Puca (2:08:24), however, she was the first one amongst Mexican swimmers which granted her a spot on Mexico’s Open Water National Team who will represent the country in Budapest this summer. Second and third place (for Mexican swimmers) came young talented swimmers, Paulina Alanis (2:08:29) and Monserrat Mora (2:12:22). For Alanis, just 17 years old, this will be her first World Open Water Championships. Alanis and Mora, also qualified for the FINA World Junior Open Water Championships in Beau Vallon, Seychelles. 

 

Men’s 10k: 

Paulo Strehlke, just 16 years of age, took the title of Mexican Open Water National Champion in a time of 1:58:29. The young and talented swimmer from AJ Nadadores, will represent Mexico in both FINA  World Open Water Championships in Budapest, Hungary and FINA World Junior Open Water Championships in Beau Vallon, Seychelles. 

Tokyo Olympian and long time Open Water veteran, Daniel Delgadillo, came in second place (1:58:44). Arturo Perez Vertti, who swam at the London Olympics in the 1500 freestyle, took third place with a time of 1:58:45.

 

See below athletes qualified for the Mexican Junior Team, which would represent the Mexican colors at the 2022 FINA World Junior Open Water Championships in Seychelles.

 

__________________________________________________________________

7 out of the 12 swimmers come from AJ Nadadores in Cuernavaca, Morelos. Certainly the strongest club within  this discipline. 

 

Women’s Team

Paulina Alanis (AJ Nadadores Cuernavaca) – 10K

Monserrat Mora (Universidad del Valle Guadalajara) – 10K

Alejandra Hoyos (Carril4, Guadalajara) – 7.5K

Melisa Rodriguez (AJ Nadadores Cuernavaca) – 7.5K

Regina Cuevas (AJ Nadadores Cuernavaca) – 5K

Jimena Figueroa (AJ Nadadores Cuernavaca) – 5K

 

Men’s Team

Maximiliano Strehlke (AJ Nadadores Cuernavaca) – 10K

Maximiliano Vega (A&M University, Texas) – 10K

Paulo Strehlke (AJ Nadadores Cuernavaca) – 7.5K

Roberto Ochoa (Carril4, Guadalajara) – 7.5K

Alexis Espinoza (AJ Nadadores Cuernavaca) – 5k

Marco Melendez (Cumbres Querétaro) – 5K

Last update: May, 2022

Katie Ledecky is no longer the WR in the women’s 400 meter freestyle. The Australian Olympic Champion has just broken Ledecky’s former WR in a time of 3:56.40. That time is 0.06 faster than the previous historic WR.

This makes Titmus the fastest swimmer in history in this event. This world record adds to her amazing career at last year’s Olympics. She is now the current Olympic Champion and world record holder in this event.

Titmus said a few weeks that she will not be attending this year’s World Championships to concentrate only on Commonwealth Games. This being said, Ledecky will have the opportunity to take her record back. She demonstrated an amazing technique and solid times at the US International Team Trials. Let’s see if the new training in Florida can make her break the WR once again.

 

She is definitely the favorite to win gold in Budapest, however, her main objective now is to have the WR again. Will she make it?

Watch WR of Titmus here!

Last update: May, 2022

The medley relay is certainly one if the most exciting races of all time. At this year’s FINA World Swimming Championships Great Britain will try to defend the title acquired at the 2019 version. However, there is a huge absence: Adam Peaty.

As the Olympic Champion published on his YouTube channel and Instagram, he will be swing this competition due to an injury; which means that only 3/4 really swimmers from 2019 will be back.

Luke Greenback (backstroke), James Guy (butterfly) and Duncan Scott (freestyle) will race in Budapest to defend their world title.

Since 2019, Greenback has improved tremendously, by winning Olympic bronze in the 200 meter backstroke and silver at this same relay.

James Guy and Duncan Scott are swimmers with experience and always deliver high quality races, therefore GBR should be fine here. The question is, who will be doing breaststroke?

In my opinion, James Wilby is the best weapon that the British swimming team has. He has Olympic experience and was part of this same relay at Tokyo (swan at prelims only). He has been on the biggest stage and has been able to manage the pressure.

 

His best time in the 100 meter breaststroke is 58-mid which should be fast enough to make the British team very competitive.

The biggest threat for this team are the current Olympic Champions: USA.

Ryan Murphy, Michael Andrew, Caeleb Dressel and Brooks Curry are the team to beat.

Watch the latest 4×100 meter medley relay at the Olympics.

Last update: May, 2022