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Top 5 Men’s Swimmers That Can Upset Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics 2021

Published 07/07/2021, 11:31 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

After a gap of 5 years, the Tokyo Olympics 2021 is all set to start on July 23rd. Despite postponing the event from last year because of the ongoing COVID-19, Tokyo is all set to welcome athletes from all over the world to kick-start, the world’s biggest sporting event.

As usual, swimming is one of the most-watched events in the Olympics. With Michael Phelps retired, new swimmers are expected to take the center stage in Tokyo.

Despite the USA being dominant in the swimming events, there are some swimmers outside the States looking to shine on the grandest stage of them all.

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The latest edition of the Olympics will host a new set of talented swimmers looking to win medals for their country.

Adam Peaty back for Tokyo Olympics 2021

While Dressel is immaculate in freestyle, no other swimmer will come close to Adam Peaty in the breaststroke events. The boy from England will be the hands-down favorite for the 50 and 100-meter breaststroke events in Tokyo.

Having won the gold medal in Rio 2016, Peaty looks to claim another gold this time around. He is currently the world record holder for both the aforementioned events.

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The 6-time European swimmer of the year looks to continue his legacy in the breaststroke event.

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While Peaty dominates the breaststroke events, fans have their odds booked on Gregorio Paltrinieri for the 800 and 1500-meter freestyle competitions.

Claiming the gold medal in Rio for the 1500-meter freestyle event, Paltrinieri loves to swim long distances. However, having contracted mononucleosis, there are doubts regarding his appearance for the event.

With Sun Yang facing a doping ban, the 1500-meter freestyle event would be an exciting watch, for the audience.

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The local boy of Japan

While the Japanese have a lot of athletes competing in the Olympics, the individual medley specialist Daiya Seto looks set to bring the gold medal home to Japan, once again.

Notably, Seto was the first Asian swimmer to win the gold for a medley event. The predictions are in favor of Daiya to dominate the event from start to finish.

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In the meantime, the backstroke events are the most awaited event this time around, along with Caeleb Dressel’s freestyle events.

Olympic gold medallist, Ryan Murphy looks to claim the back-to-back gold medals for this event. However, he will know that he should get past a certain Russian swimmer at first.

Evgeny Rylov

After his bronze medal in Rio 2016, Rylov looks a man possessed as he hopes to win his first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. His performances in the International swimming league were noteworthy and looks to dethrone Murphy in the backstroke events.

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Kristof Milak

Last but not least is the Hungarian swimmer, Kristof Milak. Even though Dressel looks to win seven gold medals to equal Mark Spitz’s record, Milak will be his biggest threat.

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The current world record holder of the 200-meter fly broke Phelps’s long-standing world record by setting a time of 1:50.73, during the 2019 World championships.

By competing in the 100-meter butterfly event as well, Milak hopes to dampen Dressel’s hopes of a clean sweep in Tokyo.

The US national men’s swimming team comprises some of the best swimmers in the world. However, the swimmers mentioned above are more than capable of spoiling their party, once and for all.

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Written by:

Jacob Gijy

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Jacob Gijy is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Gijy finished his Masters in Counselling Psychology and worked in a hospital for 2 years before his passion for sports compelled him to find his way to sports journalism. A fan of the great Tim Duncan, he is always ready to pick up a debate with anyone who does not offer the centre the respect he deserves.
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