Jarod Hatch closed his first-ever Olympic Games with a last place finish among eight swimmers in the second heat of the Paris 2024 men’s 100m butterfly, recording a time of 54.66 on Friday at Paris La Defense Arena.
The 25-year-old multiple-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist aimed to defy the odds and at least make the semifinals—something fellow national team swimmer Kayla Sanchez achieved just a few days ago in the women’s 100-meter freestyle.
Hatch, who came out of retirement to compete for the country once more, tried to keep pace with the race leaders in his heat, which included South Africa’s Chad le Clos and China’s Sun Jiajun.
He touched in eighth place after the first 50 meters, just 0.02 seconds behind South Africa’s Matthew Sates.
The former UC Berkeley standout tried to catch up with Sates and match his national standard of 52.87, but the South African was a touch faster, with Hatch clocking in at 54.66.
It is uncertain whether Hatch will continue his swimming career or return to retirement, but his medals and records stand as proof of the honor he brought in representing the Three Stars and the Sun.
