Who will win Gold in the men's 50 meter freestyle?

AMONG the most intriguing events at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing will be the men's 50-meter freestyle. The event has been taken to a different level in recent months, thanks to the likes of Eamon Sullivan and Alain Bernard. More, the event doesn't even compare to what it was at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, when only two men cracked the 22-second barrier.

When the fastest men in the world gather in China this summer, barely dipping under 22 seconds will hardly - so it seems - get a sniff of a medal. Heck, it might not even get a place in the championship final. Yes, the one-lap sprint has gotten that fast, and all indications suggest it will continue to get faster.

Historical Perspective

Defending: Gary Hall Jr. (United States) - 21.93.
World-Record Holder: Alain Bernard (France) - 21.50.
Most Titles: United States (Four) - Matt Biondi (1988); Anthony Ervin (2000); Gary Hall Jr. (2000/2004).
Notable: At the beginning of this year, Alex Popov, the great Russian sprinter, was the world-record holder at 21.64. Now, the two-time Olympic champion is the third-fastest man in history, trailing France's Alain Bernard (21.50) and Australian Eamon Sullivan (21.51). Look for the legendary Popov to be bumped down a few more slots.

Source: http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/premium/swimming_world/swpdf.asp?a=2008OlympicIssue.pdf