| Head-to-Head Match-ups Coughlin vs. Henry 100 m Freestyle
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| Natalie Coughlin American Record Holder 4th fastest performer of all-time. 9th fastest performance of all-time. Best time: 53.99 (2002 Pan Pacs) National titles: 2 Gold: 02 Pan Pacs Bronze: 04 Olympics Strengths: Coughlin has emerged as an international force in the 100 free, despite it being her second-best event… Has an incredible underwater dolphin kick… Takes advantage of that kick to beat her opponents off the start and turn… Is not afraid to step up and race against the best in the world… Has demonstrated that she will stick to her own race plan regardless of what the competition is doing... Is a strong finisher. Weakness:
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Jodie Henry World Record Holder Best time: 53.52 (2004 Olympics) Gold: 02 Commonwealth Games, 04 Olympics Silver: 02 Pan Pacs, 03 Worlds Strengths: With an outstanding year in 2004, Henry established herself as the premier female 100 freestyler in the world over fellow Aussie Libby Lenton, American Nataie Coughlin, and Dutch Inge deBruijn… A fierce racer… Has demonstrated that she can overcome a deficit on her way to victory… Has a great kick behind her… Has an incredible last 50. Weakness:
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Race Outlook: The last time Coughlin and Henry faced off, Henry won gold and Coughlin won bronze at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. As the world record holder and having broken the 54 second barrier multiple times, Henry is clearly the favorite in this race, but Coughlin will undoubtedly put up a good fight in front of the home crowd. This race is definitely an interesting match-up in many aspects. World vs. American record holder. Underwater kicking speed vs. swimming speed. The two competitors are also a contrast in freestyle swimming technique – Henry with the traditional high elbow recovery and Coughlin with a straight arm recovery that swings over the surface. With her start and great underwater kicking ability, Coughlin will break out swimming with a lead. When Henry broke the world record in the semifinals at the Olympics, Coughlin had more than half a body length lead over Henry at the start. However, Henry outswam Coughlin over the first 50 to take a slight lead at the halfway point. Coming off the turn wall, Coughlin will have to take advantage of her kick once again to race with Henry. Henry has proven that she has an incredible last 50 that is difficult for anyone to stay with. When Henry broke the world record, her last 50 split was 27.28. Coughlin has never brought her race home under 28 seconds. Expect to see Coughlin swim with a lead going into each length and Henry trying to chase her down. |
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If
the match-up in the women’s 100m free comes down to Australia’s
Jodie Henry and the United States’ Natalie Coughlin, look
out. It’s going to be one thrilling race. Henry might be the
world record holder and Olympic gold medalist, but Coughlin is America’s
fastest swimmer ever in this event and has showed time and time
again that she’s not afraid to step up and race the best in
the world.
