Women's 50 Meter Freestyle

Libby Trickett of Australia (formerly Libby Lenton) has to be the favorite in this race. She took bronze in Athens, and in the 2003 World Champs before that. Since then she has taken gold in the 2005 and 2007 Worlds and claimed the WR in 5 events including this one at 23.97, the only woman to go under 24. 15 year old Cate Campbell has the third fastest time this year at 24.13 back in May, after trials. She looks to factor in the medals, perhaps giving Australia a 1-2 punch in this event.


Aussie Libby Trickett

Dara Torres won both the 100 Free and 50 Free at trials this year, setting an American Record in both events. She is 41 years old and wisely has chosen to limit her individual events to just the 50. Dara's newest AR in this event is the 24.26 she put up in finals at trials. This is still short of Trickett's WR of 23.97, which she set at the Australian Trials. It would be great if Dara could get herself another individual medal in her 5th, and possibly last Olympics. Getting the gold is going to be very difficult with Libby Tricket in the race.


Dara Torres is much stronger than you

The USA is also sending Jessica Hardy to Beijing. Scratch that, she tested positive for clenbuterol, a drug used in ashtma medications that is banned. Rather than force her way onto the team with appeals have this hanging over the USA team in Beijing she has withdrawn from the games. She tested positive on July 4, but that was sandwiched between two negative tests on July 1 and July 6. She maintains her innocence, but it is worth noting that clenbuterol has a short half-life and is usually undetectable after 72 hours.

This sucks most for Lara Jackson. She took 3rd in the finals at trials, but is not on the team. Kara Lynn Joyce, on the team in the 400 Free Relay (4x100 for you non-swimmers), will be taking the second position for the states. Sorry Lara, but good luck Kara.


Marleen Veldhuis Breaks the World Record at Euro Champs

There are a number of ladies that could take a medal in this event. Marleen Veldhuis of the Netherlands is 29 years old, but put up the second fastest time this year at 24.09 at the European Champs, breaking Inge de Bruijn WR from 2000 (only to lose it 5 days later to Trickett). Britta Steffen of Germany is better the 100, where she held the WR for a year-and-a-half, but she has the third fastest time this year at 24.19. Veteran Therese Alshammar of Sweden is always fighting for a medal in the sprints and looks strong again this year. Youngster Francesca Halsall from Great Britain is new to the scene and probalby won't be on the podium but should show up in the final. This could be one event where the United States gets locked out of the medals.

Medal Predictions:

Video:

Watch the Women's 50 Free finals at the US Trials where Dara sets the AR.

Watch Libby set the WR in the Women's 50 Free final at the Australian Trials.

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