Zhang Yufei of China reacts after the Tokyo 2020 women's 100m butterfly heat in Tokyo, Japan, July 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
TOKYO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Yufei of China clocked 55.82 seconds to enter the women's 100m butterfly semifinal, as the first swimming preliminary session kicked off Saturday night at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.
World record holder Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden ranked third in the women's 100 fly heats, while Australian Emma McKeon also finished in 55.82 seconds. American teen Torri Huske and her fellow countrywoman Claire Curzan, who are making their Olympic debut, progressed through with respective times of 56.29 and 57.49.
In the men's 400m individual medley, Brendon Smith of Australia will swim the men's 400m IM final as top seed, and he will be joined by the likes of Chase Kalisz of America, New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt, Alberto Razzetti of Italy, among others.
The much-anticipated Japanese swimmer and world champion Daita Seto, who claimed a bronze medal at Rio 2016, failed to make the final in the men's 400m individual medley. Wang Shun of China only ranked 10th.
In the men's 400m freestyle, Henning Muhlleitner of Germany topped the final in 3 minutes 43.67 seconds. Felix Auboeck of Austria and Gabriele Detti of Italy also qualified for the final.
Defending Olympic Champion Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu of Hungary finished 7th in 4 minutes 36.01 seconds in the heats of the women's 400m IM. She will be aged 32 years and 83 days on the day of the women's 400m individual medley final on Sunday. She can become the second-oldest female to win a gold medal in swimming at the Olympic Games, after 33-year-old Dara Torres won gold in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay and women's 4x100m medley relay in 2000.
America's Emma Weyant ranked first in 4 minutes 33.55 seconds in the women's 400m IM. Aimee Willmott placed second.
Yan Zibei of China reached the semifinals as the fifth in the men's 100 breaststroke. Defending champion Adam Peaty of Britain looks to be the heavy favorite for the gold as he finished first in 57.56 seconds.
China also reached the final of women's 100m freestyle relay on July 25. Enditem
