[1] Dutch rising star Inge de Bruijn shattered her own world record by 0.03 seconds to claim the gold medal in the event.

Forging a narrow lead at the initial turn, she cruised her path on the final lap to hit the wall first in a sterling time of 56.61.

At only 33 years of age and competing in her fourth Olympics since 1984, U.S. legend Dara Torres ended her seven-year retirement from the sport by taking home the bronze in 58.20.

[4][5][6] Australia's top favorite Petria Thomas failed to impress the home crowd with her fourth-place effort, finishing off the podium by 29-hundredths of a second in 58.49.

[7] Japan's Junko Onishi (59.13), Thomas' teammate Susie O'Neill (59.27), competing in her third Olympics, and Romania's Diana Mocanu (59.43) rounded out the finale.