[PHOTO BY DANIEL SHIREY, US PRESSWIRE]
EVENT-BY-EVENT PREVIEW: WOMEN’S SWIMMING
PICTURED
» Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Netherlands
50 Meter Freestyle
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Reigning Champion: Britta Steffen, Germany Past Champions: Kristin Otto (1988), Yang Wenyi (1992), Amy BY JOHN Van Dyken (1996), Inge de Bruijn (2000), Inge de Bruijn (2004), Britta Steffen (2008) World Record: Britta Steffen, Germany, 23.73 Notable: Of the six times the 50 free has been an Olympic event, the winner has also doubled in the 100 free on three occasions. Kristin Otto pulled off the sprint double in 1988, while Inge de Bruijn (2000) and Britta Steffen (2008) also completed the sweep. Otto’s performances from the 1988 Games in Seoul are tainted from suspected doping violations by East Germany’s systematic program. THE HEADLINERS Whether there will be a title defense by Germany’s Britta Steffen remains to be seen, as the sprint sensation has yet to reveal what is in the arsenal for 2012. What isn’t a mystery is how quick and deep this event has become. For evidence, all one must do is look at the statements made by the Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Great Britain’s Fran Halsall. Kromowidjojo put herself in the driver’s seat with a 24.10 clocking at the Eindhoven Cup, a performance that is the fastest ever in a textile suit. The Dutchwoman was the silver medalist in the 50 free at last year’s World Championships and seems to be rising higher and higher. As for Halsall, she’ll be the undisputed favorite of the crowd in London and boasts a personal best of 20
Olympic Preview
24.13, registered at the British Trials. Halsall just missed out on a medal at the World Champs, placing fourth. Sweden boasts an impressive duo of Therese Alshammar and LOHN Sarah Sjostrom, with Alshammar rating as the reigning world champ. Alshammar owns a best of 24.14 and is defying age, while Sjostrom, with a full program for London, has been fast improving in the shortest sprint. Sjostrom is better suited for the 100 and 200 freestyles, along with the 100 butterfly, where she was world champion in 2009. The United States will turn to Jessica Hardy, who was 24-mid at the American Trials, and Kara Lynn Joyce, making her third Olympic appearance. The Netherlands’ Marleen Veldhuis will be another factor, along with the Australian sister tandem of Cate and Bronte Campbell. It will also be necessary to keep an eye on Belarus’ Aliaksandra Herasimenia and Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen. WHAT ELSE? The possibility of a sixth Olympic appearance by Dara Torres vanished at the United States Olympic Trials, but credit still must go to the 45-year-old. En route to fourth at Trials, Torres produced a time of 24.82, an amazing effort for an athlete about 20 years older than most of her competition. SWIMMING WORLD’S PICKS Gold: Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED Silver: Fran Halsall, GBR Bronze: Britta Steffen, GER ❖