2023 U.S. OPEN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- November 29-December 2, 2023
- Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Long Course Meters (50 meters)
- Start Times
- Prelims: 9 AM (ET)
- Finals: 6 PM (ET)
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Stream Info
- Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Finals Heat Sheet
Perhaps the most encouraging moment of Caeleb Dressel‘s year-long comeback came on Thursday night at the U.S. Open, where he dipped under 22 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle for the first time since April of 2022.
The seven-time Olympic gold medalist won the B-final with a time of 21.99, his fastest time since clocking a 21.29 at the 2022 U.S. International Team Trials. Dressel, 27, has been working back into shape at his University of Florida training base since dropping out of the 2022 World Championships and spending extended time away from the water.
Dressel went 22.35 in prelims this morning after going 22.57 in May. He would have tied for 4th in the A-final tonight with Santo Condorelli, who posted his fastest time since the Rio 2016 Olympics, behind Mikel Schreuders (21.93), Josh Liendo (21.90), and Michael Andrew (21.80).
Dressel has been as fast as 21.04 on two occasions, first at the 2019 World Championships and then at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. It took a time of 21.58 to medal at the 2023 World Championships, where Aussie veteran Cameron McEvoy topped the podium with a winning mark of 21.06.
Caeleb Dressel. 21.99 50 Free.
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/TUfyD10Nib
— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) December 1, 2023
Dressel wasn’t the only Olympic gold medalist who took a step forward on the comeback trail during the second night of the U.S. Open.
Simone Manuel placed 7th in the women’s 50 free with a 24.82, her first time under 25 seconds since the Tokyo Olympics more two years ago (24.63 in semifinals). Manuel, 26, owns a lifetime best of 23.97 from the 2017 World Championships, but she has also been building back slowly since revealing her diagnosis with overtraining syndrome in June of 2021. She now trains at Arizona State with head coach Bob Bowman.
Manuel opted to skip the U.S. National Championships this year while Dressel competed in the 50 free prelims (22.72) but scratched out of the C-final after tying for 22nd.
Related:
Two major milestones in the men's and women's 50 free tonight:
-Caeleb Dressel went 21.99, which was his first sub-22 swim since April 2022
-Simone Manuel went 24.82, her first sub-25 swim since the Tokyo Olympics pic.twitter.com/4J2QY0H48F— Yanyan Li (@yyanyanli1) December 1, 2023
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS
- World Record: 23.61– Sarah Sjostrom (2023)
- American Record: 23.97– Simone Manuel (2017)
- U.S. Open Record: 24.00 — Abbey Weitzeil (2023)
U.S. Open Meet Record: 24.43 –Simone Manuel (2019)
Top 8:
- Kate Douglass — 24.38
- Torri Huske/Abbey Weitzeil — 24.41
- Gretchen Walsh — 24.42
- Siobhan Haughey — 24.62
- Melanie Henique — 24.76
- Simone Manuel — 24.82
- Claire Curzan — 24.92
MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS
- World Record: 20.91– Cesar Cielo Filho (2009)
- American Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
- U.S. Open Record: 21.04 — Caeleb Dressel (2021)
- U.S. Open Meet Record: 21.59 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
Top 8:
- Michael Andrew — 21.80
- Josh Liendo — 21.90
- Mikel Schreuders — 21.93
- Santo Condorelli — 21.99
- Quintin McCarty — 22.01
- Merion Cheruti — 22.14
- Brooks Curry — 22.16
- Ryan Held — 22.24
Dressel is really falling off. His meet record is 21.59 Its going to be rough for him when he misses the Olympic team
It’s good to see him and Santo Condorelli back under 22 after some time away from the sport.