IOC Adds 50m Stroke Events to 2028 LA Olympics

World Aquatics has officially added the 50-meter backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events to the swimming program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, marking a significant expansion of the swimming schedule. This decision, approved by the International Olympic Committee, brings the total number of swimming events to 41, up from 35 at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Athletes such as Adam Peaty and Sarah Sjostrom have expressed their excitement on social media, with Peaty confirming his intention to compete in his fourth Olympic Games. The inclusion of these events reflects swimming's evolution and aims to provide more opportunities for athletes to demonstrate their skills at the Olympics. This addition comes 40 years after the first introduction of the 50 freestyle in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam emphasized that this decision enhances the balance of the Olympic swimming program.