July 31, 2012

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LONDON -

In an impressive display of his sprinting skills, Cal's Nathan Adrian (2007-11) won both his morning and his semifinal heats Tuesday (July 31) and has advanced to the Olympic finals of the 100-meter freestyle. Adrian, the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the 100 free, will now go for the gold medal in the 100 free on Wednesday, Aug. 1 and is looking to become the first Cal men's swimmer to win an Olympic gold in the 100 free since Matt Biondi in 1988. Fans will be able to watch Olympic Swimming on NBC at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Adrian, who on July 29, swam the lead-off leg of the United States' silver medal-winning 400 free relay, won his Tuesday morning heat of the 100 free with a time of 48.19, which was the fastest mark entering the semifinals. In the semifinals, Adrian won his heat with a mark of 47.97, and now has the second fastest time, behind only Australia's James Magnussen's 47.63, entering Wednesday's final.

Between his freshman and sophomore years at Cal, Adrian swam in the prelims of Team USA's 400 free relay that won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials' champion in the 100 free with a time of 48.10.

Adrian's former Cal teammate, Graeme Moore (2008-11) of South Africa, placed seventh in the morning heat of the 100 free with a time of 48.29, while veteran Olympian Dominik Meichtry (2005-08) of Switzerland was fifth in his morning heat with a time of 48.95. Moore and Meichtry did not advance.

Another former Cal star swimming on Tuesday was Henrique Barbosa (2003-06), who placed sixth in his heat of 200 breast with a mark of 2:12.05, failing to advance. Barbosa was the NCAA individual champion in both the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke in 2006.