As the highly anticipated 2024 Paris Olympics kick off, swimming enthusiasts around the world are in for a treat with a captivating lineup of finals set to take place on the first night of competition. Four medal rounds are on tap, including the men's and women's 400 freestyle, and the men's and women's 4x100 freestyle relay finals. Additionally, two semifinals will add to the excitement with the women's 100 butterfly and the men's 100 breaststroke taking center stage.

The evening's action will commence with the women's 100 butterfly semifinals, with China's Zhang Yufei leading the pack as the top seed, having clocked an impressive time of 56.50. Spectators can expect a fierce battle as the swimmers vie for a spot in the final.

The men's 400 freestyle final will be the first highlight of the Games. Lukas Märtens from Germany, who turned heads earlier this season with an astounding time of 3:40.33, will be showcasing his talent once again. Although just 0.26 seconds shy of the super-suited world record set by Paul Biedermann, Märtens remains a formidable contender. In the morning heats, he posted a top time of 3:44.13, closely followed by Guilherme Costa, Fei Liwei, Elijah Winnington, and Sam Short, all breaking the 3:45 mark. With a highly competitive field, the final promises to be a thrilling affair.

Next, it's the women's 400 freestyle final, where a captivating rematch between the top four athletes from the 2023 World Championships awaits. Leading the pack is powerhouse Katie Ledecky from the United States, who swam an impressive time of 4:02.19 in the heats. Joining her are Ariarne Titmus, Erika Fairweather, and Summer McIntosh, all aiming for glory and looking to secure their first Olympic medals. Titmus, the reigning world record holder, enters the race as the heavy favorite, having remained undefeated in this event since 2019.

The women's 4x100 freestyle relay final is set to be dominated by Australia, the world record holders in this event. Clocking in faster than anyone else with a time of 3:31.57, the Australian team will be determined to maintain their status as the nation to beat. However, they cannot afford any mistakes with a strong United States quartet hot on their heels, led by the outstanding performances of Emma McKeon and Sarah Sjöström during the morning heats.

In the men's 4x100 freestyle relay, China takes the top spot following their impressive prelims time of 3:11.62, largely owing to Pan Zhanle's record-breaking anchor leg time of 46.98. However, the competition is fierce, as Australia, Great Britain, and the United States are all within striking distance, separated by less than a second. With multiple strong candidates for a podium finish, the relay lineup and strategic order will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in determining the ultimate triumph.

Excitement and anticipation fill the air in Paris as the world's top swimmers gather for an unforgettable opening night of finals. Spectators eagerly await the record-breaking performances, thrilling battles, and moments of triumph that lie ahead as the Tokyo pool becomes a stage for Olympic greatness once again.