Olympic Swimming: Biggest Men's Events Remaining in London

Swimming is no doubt one of the most popular events for fans in the entire Olympics.  Even with just one week left of swimming competition, there are still plenty of quality events remaining.

With stars like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, swimming dominates the early part of the Olympics.

With plenty of exciting events still to come, swimming will still dominate the Olympic headlines.  Here are events that both swim fans, as well as Olympic fans, do not want to miss out.

100-meter Freestyle

The Men’s 100-meter race is sure to bring the excitement when the swimmers take to the pool. 

This race does not feature American swimming stars Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps, but with James Magnussen, Nathan Adrian and Cesar Cielo Filho all in the field, a fast time will surely be posted.

With reigning Olympic champion Alain Bernard not swimming for the French team, this event will be wide open. Without a clear-cut favorite, each swimmer will be forced to bring their best, which was shown in the fast times that were posted in the earlier heats.

Seven nations will be represented when the swimmers take the block. For many of these swimmers, it will be the biggest race of their lives.  The biggest showdown in this race will be Magnussen and Filho; both swimmers were pegged as early favorites heading into the Olympics and have not disappointed in their showing so far.

Magnussen, who is the reigning world champion, swam the fastest time in either semifinal heat. He hopes to carry that momentum heading into one of his favorite races.  Don’t be surprised if it is Magnussen standing on top of the podium when the race is finished.

50-meter Freestyle

The Men’s 50-meter freestyle is one the most exciting events in all of the Olympics. It is a showcase of ultimate speed and strength as the swimmers will burst out of the blocks and race just one length of the pool.

Cullen Jones will be the American’s best opportunity to win a medal in this event. Jones, who is known for his performance with the 2008 relay team that won gold in Beijing, will head into the event with a little more rest after not qualifying for the 100-meter final.

Cesar Cielo Filho will head into the event as the early favorite to win gold. He won gold in 2008 and has not shown any signs of slowing down. In an event that requires a scorching start off the blocks, it fits into Filho’s style perfectly. 

If Filho or Jones do not bring home gold in this event, it would be a surprise. Filho (21.38) and Jones (21.59) both posted the fastest qualifying times heading into the Olympics and the race should come down to these two men.

100-meter Butterfly

If this event is anything close to as exciting as the 2008 race was in Beijing, it would be shocking and amazing. In Beijing, Michael Phelps caught Serbia’s Milorad Cavic in stunning fashion. These two are once again early favorites heading into the preliminary heats in London.

Phelps and Cavic are pitted together in Heat 6, which means that these two rivals could meet as many as three times including the final. It will surely bring out the best in both swimmers and make the heats and semifinals much more exciting then they normally would be.

Most of the time, swimmers know that they can reach the final without swimming their best time.  They use this strategy to conserve energy allowing them to swim faster in the final.  Both of these men have 2008 on their minds and want to make sure they make a statement each and every time they get into a pool together.

Cavic wants to show that he is better than he performed in 2008 and Phelps wants to show that 2008 was not a fluke. This combination of competitiveness can only result in an epic battle of two world-class swimmers.

With Phelps not swimming at his best, don’t be surprised to see Cavic give him a run for his money. But something tells me that Phelps will dig deep and find some sort of his Beijing form and once again find himself on top of the podium with gold around his neck.