We didn't get the World Record scare in this race that Dana Vollmer's progression might have indicated, but we still got an exhilerating race. Australia's Alicia Coutts, who entered the race as the top seed, led about every stroke of this race except for the final one. Whereas Schipper appeared to hesitate to line up her touch, Vollmer stayed flat and went for the wall aggressively, and ultimately took the win in 56.87. Coutts touched second in a career-best of 56.94.

　　Looking historically, this is the 2nd-tightest finish in history of this race, after the 1978 final.

　　China's Lu Yang, who is not the Chinese swimmer that most expected to compete for a medal in this 100 fly, took bronze in 57.06. Sarah Sjostrom, who in 2009 was the Champion in this event in a World Record time, looked for a time as though she might medal, but fell a bit short at the finish to take 4th overall.

　　Among other notable finishers, Great Britain's Ellen Gandy swam a career-best for 5th in 57.55.