In Nanterre, France, Sarah Sjöström from Sweden secured her second gold medal at the Paris Olympics by dominating the 50-meter freestyle final on the last night of swimming. Sjöström, a veteran at 30 years old and competing in her fifth Summer Games, had previously surprised herself by winning the 100 free event. Her victory in the 100 free, an event where she holds the world record, boosted her confidence for the 50 free competition.
Sjöström’s impressive swim saw her finish in 23.71 seconds, narrowly missing her own world record of 23.61 set at the 2023 world championships. Despite the usual close margins in the 50 free, the Swedish swimmer took a commanding lead from the start and maintained control throughout the race. Meg Harris of Australia claimed the silver with a time of 23.97, while China’s Zhang Yufei earned the bronze in 24.20, marking her fourth bronze at the games alongside a silver medal.
Gretchen Walsh of the United States narrowly missed out on a fourth medal, finishing fourth with a time of 24.21. Meanwhile, Daniel Wiffen of Ireland aimed to add the 1,500 freestyle title to his earlier victory in the 800 free at the La Defense Arena. The swimming competition was set to conclude with the men’s and women’s 4×100 medley relays, wrapping up an eventful night of finals at the Paris Olympics.
