Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics

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Swimming
at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad
Swimming - Paris 2024.svg Swimming (marathon) - Paris 2024.svg
Pictograms for swimming (top) and marathon swimming (bottom)
Venue Paris La Défense Arena (pool)
Pont Alexandre III (marathon)
Dates27 July – 4 August 2024 (pool)
8–9 August 2024 (marathon)
No. of events37 (18 men, 18 women, 1 mixed)
  2020
2028  

The swimming competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris were held from 27 July to 9 August 2024. Pool events (27 July to 4 August) took place at the Paris La Défense Arena, with the two-day marathon swimming (8 to 9 August) staged at Pont Alexandre III through the Seine River. [1] [2]

Events

Similar to the 2020 program format, swimming featured a total of 37 events (18 each for men and women and 1 mixed event), including two 10 km open-water marathons. The following events were contested (all pool events are long-course, and distances are in meters unless stated):

Schedule

The swimming program schedule for Paris 2024 occurred in two segments. For the pool events, similar to the case for the 2012 Games, prelims ran in the morning, followed by the semifinal and final sessions in the evening and the night session (due to the substantial fees NBC has paid for rights to the Olympics, the IOC allowed NBC to have influence on event scheduling to maximize U.S. television ratings when possible; NBC agreed to a $7.75 billion contract extension on 7 May 2014, to air the Olympics through the 2032 Games [3] and is also one of the major sources of revenue for the IOC). [4] [5] Several significant changes were instituted to the swimming schedule, with the program extending to nine days for the first time as opposed to the regular eight-day format. The extra day would be used to alleviate the schedules of the swimmers who would compete in the individual and relay events at the same period. Moreover, it relieved a packed schedule that witnessed three new events added to the program at the previous Games. [6] [7]

In February 2024, a change was announced to the original schedule for Days 5 and 6, after lobbying by the French swimming governing body to give Léon Marchand a chance to win both the men's 200 metre butterfly and 200 metre breaststroke events. [8] [9] All events remain on the originally planned days, but the event order was modified to create a longer gap between the 200 metre butterfly and 200 metre breaststroke events.

Legend
HHeats½Semi-finalsFFinal
M = Morning session, starting at 11:00 local time (09:00 UTC).
E = Evening session, starting at 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC).
Men's [6] [10] [11]
Date →27 Jul28 Jul29 Jul30 Jul31 Jul1 Aug2 Aug3 Aug4 Aug8 Aug9 Aug
Event ↓MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME
50 m freestyle H½F
100 m freestyle H½F
200 m freestyle H½F
400 m freestyle HF
800 m freestyle HF
1500 m freestyle HF
100 m backstroke H½F
200 m backstroke H½F
100 m breaststroke H½F
200 m breaststroke H½F
100 m butterfly H½F
200 m butterfly H½F
200 m individual medley H½F
400 m individual medley HF
4 × 100 m freestyle relay HF
4 × 200 m freestyle relay HF
4 × 100 m medley relay HF
10 km open water F
Women's [6] [10] [11]
Date →27 Jul28 Jul29 Jul30 Jul31 Jul1 Aug2 Aug3 Aug4 Aug8 Aug9 Aug
Event ↓MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME
50 m freestyle H½F
100 m freestyle H½F
200 m freestyle H½F
400 m freestyle HF
800 m freestyle HF
1500 m freestyle HF
100 m backstroke H½F
200 m backstroke H½F
100 m breaststroke H½F
200 m breaststroke H½F
100 m butterfly H½F
200 m butterfly H½F
200 m individual medley H½F
400 m individual medley HF
4 × 100 m freestyle relay HF
4 × 200 m freestyle relay HF
4 × 100 m medley relay HF
10 km open water F
Mixed [6] [10] [11]
Date →27 Jul28 Jul29 Jul30 Jul31 Jul1 Aug2 Aug3 Aug4 Aug8 Aug9 Aug
Event ↓MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME
4 × 100 m medley relay HF

Qualification

Individual events

World Aquatics establishes qualifying times for individual events. The time standards consist of two types, namely an "Olympic Qualifying Time" (OQT, colloquially known as the A-cut) and an "Olympic Consideration time" (OCT, colloquially known as the B-cut). Each country could enter a maximum of two swimmers per event, provided that they meet the (faster) qualifying time. A country could enter one swimmer per event that meets the invitation standard. Any swimmer who met the "qualifying" time would entered into the event for the Games; a swimmer meeting the "invitation" standard was eligible for entry allotted by ranking. If a country did not have a swimmer who meets either of the qualifying standards, it may have entered one male and one female. A country that does not receive an allocation spot but enters at least one swimmer achieving a qualifying standard might have entered those with the highest ranking. [12] [13]

Relay events

Each relay event features 16 teams, composed of the following: [12] [14]

All athletes entered in individual events could be used in relays, even if they had not achieved the OCT for the corresponding stroke and distance of the relay in which they are entered. [15] Relay teams may compose of additional athletes according to the number of events they have qualified for.

Open-water swimming

The men's and women's 10 km races featured 22 swimmers each, three less than those in the Tokyo 2020 roster: [16] [17]

Medal summary

Medal table

  *   Host nation (France)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 813728
2Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 79319
3Flag of France.svg  France*4127
4Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 3238
5Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 3115
6Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 23712
7Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2136
8Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2002
9Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 1405
10Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1113
11Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1102
12Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg  Ireland 1023
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1023
14Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 1012
15Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 0101
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 0101
17Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0022
18Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 0011
Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 0011
Totals (19 entries)373836111

Men's events

EventGoldSilverBronze
50 m freestyle
details
Cameron McEvoy
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
21.25 Ben Proud
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
21.30 Florent Manaudou
Flag of France.svg  France
21.56
100 m freestyle
details
Pan Zhanle
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
46.40 WR Kyle Chalmers
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
47.48 David Popovici
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
47.49
200 m freestyle
details
David Popovici
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
1:44.72 Matthew Richards
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
1:44.74 Luke Hobson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1:44.79
400 m freestyle
details
Lukas Märtens
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
3:41.78 Elijah Winnington
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
3:42.21 Kim Woo-min
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
3:42.50
800 m freestyle
details
Daniel Wiffen
Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg  Ireland
7:38.19 OR , ER Bobby Finke
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
7:38.75 Gregorio Paltrinieri
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
7:39.38
1500 m freestyle
details
Bobby Finke
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
14:30.67 WR Gregorio Paltrinieri
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
14:34.55 Daniel Wiffen
Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg  Ireland
14:39.63
100 m backstroke
details
Thomas Ceccon
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
52.00 Xu Jiayu
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
52.32 Ryan Murphy
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
52.39
200 m backstroke
details
Hubert Kós
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1:54.26 Apostolos Christou
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
1:54.82 NR Roman Mityukov
Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
1:54.85 NR
100 m breaststroke
details
Nicolò Martinenghi
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
59.03 Adam Peaty
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Nic Fink
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
59.05Not awarded
as there was a tie for silver.
200 m breaststroke
details
Léon Marchand
Flag of France.svg  France
2:05.85 OR , ER Zac Stubblety-Cook
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
2:06.79 Caspar Corbeau
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2:07.90
100 m butterfly
details
Kristóf Milák
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
49.90 Josh Liendo
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
49.99 NR Ilya Kharun
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
50.45
200 m butterfly
details
Léon Marchand
Flag of France.svg  France
1:51.21 OR , NR Kristóf Milák
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1:51.75 Ilya Kharun
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
1:52.80 NR
200 m individual medley
details
Léon Marchand
Flag of France.svg  France
1:54.06 OR , ER Duncan Scott
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
1:55.31 Wang Shun
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
1:56.00
400 m individual medley
details
Léon Marchand
Flag of France.svg  France
4:02.95 OR Tomoyuki Matsushita
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
4:08.62 Carson Foster
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
4:08.66
4 × 100 m freestyle relay
details
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Jack Alexy (47.67)
Chris Guiliano (47.33)
Hunter Armstrong (46.75)
Caeleb Dressel (47.53)
Ryan Held [b]
Matt King [b]
3:09.28Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Jack Cartwright (48.03)
Flynn Southam (48.00)
Kai Taylor (47.73)
Kyle Chalmers (46.59)
William Yang [b]
3:10.35Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Alessandro Miressi (48.04)
Thomas Ceccon (47.44)
Paolo Conte Bonin (48.16)
Manuel Frigo (47.06)
Lorenzo Zazzeri [b]
Leonardo Deplano [b]
3:10.70
4 × 200 m freestyle relay
details
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
James Guy (1:45.09)
Tom Dean (1:45.28)
Matt Richards (1:45.11)
Duncan Scott (1:43.95)
Jack McMillan [b]
Kieran Bird [b]
6:59.43Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Luke Hobson (1:45.55)
Carson Foster (1:45.31)
Drew Kibler (1:45.12)
Kieran Smith (1:44.80)
Brooks Curry [b]
Blake Pieroni [b]
Chris Guiliano [b]
7:00.78Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Maximillian Giuliani (1:45.99)
Flynn Southam (1:45.53)
Elijah Winnington (1:45.19)
Thomas Neill (1:45.27)
Kai Taylor [b]
Zac Incerti [b]
7:01.98
4 × 100 m medley relay
details
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Xu Jiayu (52.37)
Qin Haiyang (57.98)
Sun Jiajun (51.19)
Pan Zhanle (45.92)
Wang Changhao [b]
3:27.46Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ryan Murphy (52.44)
Nic Fink (58.97)
Caeleb Dressel (49.41)
Hunter Armstrong (47.19)
Charlie Swanson [b]
Thomas Heilman [b]
Jack Alexy [b]
3:28.01Flag of France.svg  France
Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (52.60)
Léon Marchand (58.62)
Maxime Grousset (49.57)
Florent Manaudou (47.59)
Clément Secchi [b]
Rafael Fente-Damers [b]
3:28.38 NR
10 km open water
details
Kristóf Rasovszky
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1:50:52.7 Oliver Klemet
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
1:50:54.8 Dávid Betlehem
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1:51:09.0

Women's events

EventGoldSilverBronze
50 m freestyle
details
Sarah Sjöström
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
23.71 Meg Harris
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
23.97 Zhang Yufei
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
24.20
100 m freestyle
details
Sarah Sjöström
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
52.16 Torri Huske
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
52.29 Siobhán Haughey
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
52.33
200 m freestyle
details
Mollie O'Callaghan
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1:53.27 OR Ariarne Titmus
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
1:53.81 Siobhán Haughey
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong
1:54.55
400 m freestyle
details
Ariarne Titmus
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
3:57.49 Summer McIntosh
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
3:58.37 Katie Ledecky
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
4:00.86
800 m freestyle
details
Katie Ledecky
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
8:11.04 Ariarne Titmus
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
8:12.29 OC Paige Madden
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
8:13.00
1500 m freestyle
details
Katie Ledecky
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
15:30.02 OR Anastasiya Kirpichnikova
Flag of France.svg  France
15:40.35 NR Isabel Marie Gose
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
15:41.16 NR
100 m backstroke
details
Kaylee McKeown
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
57.33 OR , =OC Regan Smith
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
57.66 Katharine Berkoff
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
57.98
200 m backstroke
details
Kaylee McKeown
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
2:03.73 OR Regan Smith
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2:04.26 Kylie Masse
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2:05.57
100 m breaststroke
details
Tatjana Smith
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
1:05.28 Tang Qianting
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
1:05.54 Mona McSharry
Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg  Ireland
1:05.59
200 m breaststroke
details
Kate Douglass
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2:19.24 AM Tatjana Smith
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2:19.60 Tes Schouten
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2:21.05
100 m butterfly
details
Torri Huske
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
55.59 Gretchen Walsh
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
55.63 Zhang Yufei
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
56.21
200 m butterfly
details
Summer McIntosh
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2:03.03 OR , WJ , AM Regan Smith
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2:03.84 NR Zhang Yufei
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2:05.09
200 m individual medley
details
Summer McIntosh
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
2:06.56 OR , WJ , NR Kate Douglass
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2:06.92 Kaylee McKeown
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
2:08.08
400 m individual medley
details
Summer McIntosh
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
4:27.71 Katie Grimes
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
4:33.40 Emma Weyant
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
4:34.93
4 × 100 m freestyle relay
details
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Mollie O'Callaghan (52.24)
Shayna Jack (52.35)
Emma McKeon (52.39)
Meg Harris (51.94)
Olivia Wunsch [b]
Bronte Campbell [b]
3:28.92 OR Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Kate Douglass (52.98)
Gretchen Walsh (52.55)
Torri Huske (52.06)
Simone Manuel (52.61)
Abbey Weitzeil [b]
Erika Connolly [b]
3:30.20 AM Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Yang Junxuan (52.48)
Cheng Yujie (52.76)
Zhang Yufei (52.75)
Wu Qingfeng (52.31)
Yu Yiting [b]
3:30.30 AS
4 × 200 m freestyle relay
details
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Mollie O'Callaghan (1:53.52)
Lani Pallister (1:55.61)
Brianna Throssell (1:56.00)
Ariarne Titmus (1:52.95)
Jamie Perkins [b]
Shayna Jack [b]
7:38.08 OR Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Claire Weinstein (1:54.88)
Paige Madden (1:55.63)
Katie Ledecky (1:54.93)
Erin Gemmell (1:55.40)
Anna Peplowski [b]
Simone Manuel [b]
Alex Shackell [b]
7:40.86Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Yang Junxuan (1:54.52)
Li Bingjie (1:55.05)
Ge Chutong (1:57.45)
Liu Yaxin (1:55.32)
Tang Muhan [b]
Kong Yaqi [b]
7:42.34
4 × 100 m medley relay
details
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Regan Smith (57.28) OR
Lilly King (1:04.90)
Gretchen Walsh (55.03)
Torri Huske (52.42)
Katharine Berkoff [b]
Emma Weber [b]
Alex Shackell [b]
Kate Douglass [b]
3:49.63 WR Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Kaylee McKeown (57.72)
Jenna Strauch (1:07.31)
Emma McKeon (56.25)
Mollie O'Callaghan (51.83)
Iona Anderson [b]
Ella Ramsay [b]
Alexandria Perkins [b]
Meg Harris [b]
3:53.11Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Wan Letian (59.81)
Tang Qianting (1:05.79)
Zhang Yufei (55.52)
Yang Junxuan (52.11)
Wang Xue'er [b]
Yu Yiting [b]
Wu Qingfeng [b]
3:53.23
10 km open water
details
Sharon van Rouwendaal
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2:03:34.2 Moesha Johnson
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
2:03:39.7 Ginevra Taddeucci
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2:03:42.8

b Swimmers who participated in the heats only and received medals.

Mixed events

EventGoldSilverBronze
4 × 100 m medley relay
details
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ryan Murphy (52.08)
Nic Fink (58.29)
Gretchen Walsh (55.18)
Torri Huske (51.88)
Regan Smith [b]
Charlie Swanson [b]
Caeleb Dressel [b]
Abbey Weitzeil [b]
3:37.43 WR Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Xu Jiayu (52.13)
Qin Haiyang (57.82)
Zhang Yufei (55.64)
Yang Junxuan (51.96)
Tang Qianting [b]
Pan Zhanle [b]
3:37.55 AS Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Kaylee McKeown (57.90)
Joshua Yong (58.43)
Matthew Temple (50.42)
Mollie O'Callaghan (52.01)
Iona Anderson [b]
Zac Stubblety-Cook [b]
Emma McKeon [b]
Kyle Chalmers [b]
3:38.76 OC

b Swimmers who participated in the heats only and received medals.

Records

The following world and Olympic records were set during the competition:

World records

DateRoundEventTimeNameNation
31 JulyFinal Men's 100 metre freestyle 46.40 Pan Zhanle Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
3 AugustFinal Mixed 4 × 100 metre medley relay 3:37.43 Ryan Murphy (52.08)
Nic Fink (58.29)
Gretchen Walsh (55.18)
Torri Huske (51.88)
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
4 AugustFinal Men's 1500 metre freestyle 14:30.67 Bobby Finke Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
4 AugustFinal Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay 3:49.63 Regan Smith (57.28)
Lilly King (1:04.90)
Gretchen Walsh (55.03)
Torri Huske (52.42)
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Olympic records

DateRoundEventEstablished forTimeNameNation
27 JulySemifinal 1 Women's 100 metre butterfly (same)55.38 Gretchen Walsh Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
27 JulyFinal Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay (same)3:28.92 Mollie O'Callaghan (52.24)
Shayna Jack (52.35)
Emma McKeon (52.39)
Meg Harris (51.94)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
27 JulyFinal Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay Men's 100 metre freestyle 46.92 Pan Zhanle Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
28 JulyFinal Men's 400 metre individual medley (same)4:02.95 Léon Marchand Flag of France.svg  France
29 JulyFinal Women's 200 metre freestyle (same)1:53.27 Mollie O'Callaghan Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
30 JulyFinal Women's 100 metre backstroke (same)57.33 Kaylee McKeown Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
30 JulyFinal Men's 800 metre freestyle (same)7:38.19 Daniel Wiffen Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
31 JulyFinal Men's 200 metre butterfly (same)1:51.21 Léon Marchand Flag of France.svg  France
31 JulyFinal Women's 1500 metre freestyle (same)15:30.02 Katie Ledecky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
31 JulyFinal Men's 200 metre breaststroke (same)2:05.85 Léon Marchand Flag of France.svg  France
1 AugustFinal Women's 200 metre butterfly (same)2:03.03 Summer McIntosh Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
1 AugustFinal Women's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay (same)7:38.08 Mollie O'Callaghan (1:53.52)
Lani Pallister (1:55.61)
Brianna Throssell (1:56.00)
Ariarne Titmus (1:52.95)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2 AugustFinal Women's 200 metre backstroke (same)2:03.73 Kaylee McKeown Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2 AugustFinal Men's 200 metre individual medley (same)1:54.06 Léon Marchand Flag of France.svg  France
3 AugustSemifinal 2 Women's 50 metre freestyle (same)23.66 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
3 AugustFinal Women's 200 metre individual medley (same)2:06.56 Summer McIntosh Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
4 AugustFinal Women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay Women's 100 metre backstroke 57.28 Regan Smith Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Chinese swimmers doping allegations

On 20 April 2024, The New York Times revealed that 23 members of the Chinese swimming team tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug called Trimetazidine seven months prior to the start of the 2020 Summer Games and were allowed to participate in the games with some of the swimmers winning medals. Following the publication of the report, Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, accused the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) of covering up doping by Chinese swimmers. [18] [19]

WADA argued the amount detected was too low to enhance performance. CHINADA, who had reported the results to WADA and FINA (now World Aquatics), blamed them on contamination from a hotel kitchen, a rationale that potentially exempts findings from being made public. [20] WADA released a statement, explaining that "[it] was not possible for WADA scientists or investigators to conduct their enquiries on the ground in China given the extreme restrictions in place due to a COVID-related lockdown. WADA ultimately concluded that it was not in a position to disprove the possibility that contamination was the source of TMZ and it was compatible with the analytical data in the file." [21] World Aquatics's investigation agreed with WADA. [22]

After the story was leaked, WADA was criticised by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and athletes. WADA's choice of a Swiss attorney to lead an investigation into the matter also drew criticism because he was hand-picked by the agency. [23] Experts interviewed by The New York Times said trace amounts of TMZ can be detected near the end of a doping excretion period but could not rule out contamination either. [24]

In a second statement, Tygart accused both the WADA and the CHINADA for not being transparent about the findings and keeping "clean athletes in the dark". WADA was also accused of having a double-standard as Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for TMZ and used the same excuse, but was subsequently banned for four years. WADA argued, based on non-published information and pharmacokinetics, that contamination would not have been possible in Valieva's case, but in the case of the Chinese swimmers, that no international competition was occurring around the time of the positive tests, only athletes who stayed at one of the hotels tested positive, and some individuals alternated between positive and negative results all point to contamination, not doping. [25] [26] In May 2024, WADA announced that it held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the doping case of the Chinese swimmers. [27] [28]

Eleven of the 23 swimmers involved in the controversy were named to the 2024 Chinese Olympic swimming team. [29]

On July 9, independent Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier concluded that WADA did not mishandle the Chinese swimmers' doping case or show bias. His interim report stated, "There is nothing in the file... to suggest that WADA showed favouritism or in any way favoured the 23 swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) between January 1 and 3, 2021." He also found no evidence of "interference or meddling" from within WADA, Chinada, or Chinese authorities. Cottier stated Wada's decision not to appeal against Chinada's conclusion was "reasonable, both from the point of view of the facts and the applicable rules". WADA President Witold Bańka welcomed the conclusion and reconfirmed the importance of clarifying these "two fundamental questions in advance of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games." [30] [31]

Per reports from multiple news outlets, the Chinese swimming delegation has reportedly been tested nearly 200 times since arriving in Paris. [32] According to World Aquatics on 2 August 2024, China’s swimmers in Paris have been tested an average of 21 times by various anti-doping organizations since the start of the year. [33] Drug-testing data in 2023 from the International Testing Agency also found that Chinese swimmers had been tested more often than swimmers of any other nationality even before news of their positive tests were made public. [34]

Former Chinese diver Gao Min alleged in a post on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo that the Chinese swimmers' poor performance in the games was due to excessive drug testing they underwent. [35] Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang said the tests "come early in the morning before we're even awake, during midday rest periods, forcing us to rest on hotel lobby sofas, and even late at night, keeping us up past midnight". [36] Wang Xue'er told a reporter from the Mandarin service of Radio Free Asia that the drug tests were okay, while Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei stated that the drug tests did not affect her much. [35]

British swimming star Adam Peaty questioned China's performances at the 2024 Summer Olympics, alluding to the cover-up of positive doping cases by Chinese swimmers, and expressing dissatisfaction with the World Anti-Doping Agency's efforts to combat cheating in sports. [37] American swimmer Caeleb Dressel emphasized the need to put trust in WADA and said that he was mainly focused on racing really tough, acknowledging that China were the better team. [38] Pan Zhanle was the only swimmer from the chinese team, to have won an individual gold in Paris 2024 and also breaking his own world record. Despite not being one of the 23 swimmers who had tested positive to TMZ, he has similarly received allegations of doping. Kyle Chalmers who came in second to him at the 100 freestyle final, however defended Pan and stated that he was confident that Pan wasn’t doping and that also he “deserves that gold medal" in [100 free]. [39] [40] David Popovici also came to Pan's defense by stating that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and adding in that, This is only motivation for us. I mean, we can’t be mad, we can only congratulate him. This is what sports is. [41] [42]

See also

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