Swimming at the 1896 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle

The men's 100 metre freestyle was one of the four swimming events on the Swimming at the 1896 Summer Olympics programme. The 100 metre freestyle race was the first of the swimming events. 10 swimmers entered the race. The two competitors from Austria-Hungary finished in the top two places, though no record distinguishes the places of the other eight competitors. The names of four of the Greek swimmers are not known.

Hajós beat Herschmann by less than a body length.