Caeleb Dressel Entered in 200 Freestyle at 2021 US Olympic Trials

2021 PRO SWIM SERIES – MISSION VIEJO (#3)

After winning the 200 freestyle at the Pro Swim Series meet in Mission Viejo, world record holder Caeleb Dressel confirmed that he is signed up to swim the race at the 2021 US Olympic Trials. 

During the post-race interview, Dressel also mentioned how he’d “love” to swim the 800 freestyle relay at the Olympics. However, he failed to say whether he will actually race either event. 

If Dressel does elect to swim the 200 freestyle at Olympic Trials, he could be a major threat to make the team individually in the event. Internationally, he raced the meet at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, where he finished 18th overall in prelims with a time of 1:47.89. Dressel also raced the event at the 2017 World Championship Trials, finishing 6th with a 1:47.51. That finish earned him a 800 freestyle relay spot at the 2017 World Championships, but Dressel ultimately opted not to swim it.

Dressel’s winning time from today was almost faster than his 2017 World Championships Trials swim, as he touched in a time of 1:47.57, not far off of his best time of 1:47.31 from the 2019 PSS in Richmond. 

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Morgan Fowle
3 years ago

its impressive how consistent he is. crazy things happen when there is more on the line. when dressel really has a drive and a goal in mind hes pretty good at reaching that goal. at the trials and even the olympics im convinced hes going to go even faster.

moddiddle
3 years ago

Good backup plan in case he doesn’t make the team in the 100

old fly
3 years ago

Looks like his team is aiming at Phelps’ 8-gold record. Given that he’s in his prime, it’s a right ambition.

john26
3 years ago

Given that the 4x200free relay is the relay the US men are most likely to lose (and even if they win, the margins are likely to be thin), they probably will be less likely to let Dressel on with blind faith, he’d need to demonstrate with a lot of conviction he is solidly top 4.

Skoorbnagol
Reply to  john26
3 years ago

Blind faith ?
He consistently beats his competitors unrested, example today.
Yet he’s notorious for a big taper.
He’s out-splitting everyone bar maybe Haas and Kieran Smith.
He’s faster than Pieroni, Apple, Conger, Seli, all of Texas and does more work than them.
Curious to know who you would have ‘faith in’ given the US have been dire in this relay since 2016.

Go Irish
Reply to  john26
3 years ago

Unless you have 4 guys that will win (and we absolutely do not have that), you go for upside, no one has more upside than the best male swimming right now

Last edited 3 years ago by Go Irish
Samesame
Reply to  Go Irish
3 years ago

Seto says hello.

john26
Reply to  Go Irish
3 years ago

I’m not saying you’re wrong about Dressel, i.e. If he puts up the #3 time at trials and it’s a 1:45 mid, there’s no question he should be on the relay. But if he puts up a 1:46.4 in the prelims that would rank #6 in the finals, I don’t think he should be on the relay.

Your argument also applied to Lochte in 4×100 free in London and it didn’t really work out well.

jvog88
Reply to  john26
3 years ago

I think that he puts up a 1:44 (and not the 1:44.8-9 kind) and makes this discussion look silly

Mean Dean
3 years ago

So theoretically if he also made the individual, that’s 7 events right?

Not gonna complain. I wanna see what dressel can do in his prime. This summer is gonna be awesome.

Admin
Reply to  Mean Dean
3 years ago

I would suspect that if he made the 200 free individually, he wouldn’t swim it.

Mixed relay, so if he did swim the 200 free individually, that would be 8:

-50 free
-100 free
-200 free
-100 fly
-3 men’s relays
-mixed medley

I don’t think he needs to. I don’t think he’s got the gas to win gold in all 8, and if he wins 5 gold medals, he’s cemented his legacy (and financial future) forever.

Mr Piano
3 years ago

If he swam the 200 free individually, I would be pretty worried about his chances at winning the 100 and 50 free to hold off people like Chalmers or Fratus. It might not conflict within the session, but it might hurt him later on the week.

Pvdh
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 years ago

Ehh this dude has put up 49.6/21.0//47.3 in the same session.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

Yea but swimming 4x200s might use up some of that reserve he needs to repeat those type of doubles.

Pvdh
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 years ago

I really don’t think so. In previous interviews Dressel describes the worlds schedule as straight up easy compared to what he had to do for NCAAs where he was carrying Florida in the prelim relays even. He won’t be swimming prelims at all in Tokyo, Not to mention that triple is not required at the Olympics and the 50 and 100 fly finals are on different days as well. The 200 free slides perfectly into his schedule

Not saying he makes the team in it but I don’t think it’d take Much out of him with how he trains.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

Pvdh is correct. After he swam 39.90, just squeaking under 40.0 from the year before (does anyone else remember seeing how when he swam that 40 flat, he turned around in the pool & signaled “a pinch” – just so close?), he said he was “tired”. Obviously from carrying Florida. However, Troy’s training serves hiom very well for 2017 & 2019 wowrlds, plus ISL. His baseline for cardio & recovery is simply phenomenal, especially for a sprinter. Notice in the ISL skins matches how Manadou was dropping off, whereas Caeleb was still dropping 21’s.

NoFlyKick
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
3 years ago

Must be nice to be able to swim a 40.00 tired.

Penguin
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

@pvdh exactly.

Ol’ Longhorn
Reply to  Penguin
3 years ago

It killed LeClos though in Rio. And he has a 4 IM, 2 fly background, so it’s not like he’s a wimp.

Prettykitten
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

He’d lose 100 free if he swam the 200. He’s only 0.1 faster than Chalmers making it a coin flip and he isn’t fast enough in the 200 to cruz through prelims or win the event. I think even doing the 4×200 would be a mistake.

Idk
Reply to  Prettykitten
3 years ago

It’s idiotic to call it a coin flip based of times from two years ago…

Prettykitten
Reply to  Idk
3 years ago

Don’t worry I am aware that since swimmers have returned to racing that Chalmers has been faster despite his shoulder surgery but i do believe Dressel will be able to pull through and be on par with his 2019 form.

Max Hardie
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 years ago

Watch out for the Russians and Milak as well.

Penguin
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 years ago

I think Steve Nolan’s got the most accurate take.

PhillyMark
3 years ago

Rowdy w the scoop!!

Khachaturian
3 years ago

What other events would be on the day of the 4 x 200 relay finals?

About Nicole Miller

Nicole Miller

Nicole has been with SwimSwam since April 2020, as both a reporter and social media contributor. Prior to joining the SwimSwam platform, Nicole also managed a successful Instagram platform, amassing over 20,000 followers. Currently, Nicole is pursuing her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After competing for the swim …

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