Caeleb Dressel on 2021 Trials: “I like the challenges that this sport brings”

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Reported by James Sutherland.

MEN’S 50 FREE FINAL

  • World Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 20.91 (2009)
  • American Record: Caeleb Dressel – 21.04 (2019)
  • US Open Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 21.14 (2009)
  • World Junior Record: Michael Andrew (USA) – 21.75 (2017)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Anthony Ervin (USA) – 21.40
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Nathan Adrian – 21.51
  • Wave I Cut: 23.19
  • Wave II Cut: 22.71
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 22.01
  1. Caeleb Dressel (GSC), 21.04 =AR
  2. Michael Andrew (RPC), 21.48
  3. Nathan Adrian (CAL), 21.73

Caeleb Dressel used his game-changing start to launch himself into clear water right off the hop in the men’s 50 freestyle final, soaring to victory in a time of 21.04 to tie his American Record set at the 2019 World Championships.

Dressel’s swim also lowers the U.S. Open Record of 21.14, set by Cesar Cielo in 2009, and ties for both the fourth-fastest swim ever and the fastest textile swim of all-time.

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PACFAN
2 years ago

Caeleb on his best day should hypothetically beat the rest of them on their best days. Still got to show up and swim. I think Fratus is within 2-3 tenths but I think CD gets the GOAT start and breakout and then the rest of the race a handful of swimmers are trying to run him down 35-50m.

I think skipping the 2 free individually is important to save that pop and make sure he’s ready for the best 50 of his life. How important is an extra event and medal shot compared to being the new fastest man ever and breaking a 12 year 50 freestyle WR at the Olympics?

sqimgod
2 years ago

He claims to like the challenges but scratches the 200 free

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  sqimgod
2 years ago

And the 200 IM, and the 200 fly. But whatever. Don’t enter them if you’re not going to swim them.

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  sqimgod
2 years ago

Give the guy a break!

The challenge in 200 free is just too hard to overcome.

Coach Macgyver
Reply to  Texas Tap Water
2 years ago

Unless he has OTS, right TTW?

Cate
Reply to  sqimgod
2 years ago

Why does he need the 200 free? If that’s your bar for a challenge, then why didn’t he swim the 1500? Not swimming the 200 free is good planning. He only wants the relay.

DDias
2 years ago

It will be interesting to see Dressel in 50 free.There is a bad Omen around 50free at Olympics regarding the top contender.In most of them, the top dog lost.I think Dressel is too far ahead, only a tragedy will stop him from gold.

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  DDias
2 years ago

Popov was the exceptional exception.

Top contender in two Olympics, won both of them

Olympian
Reply to  DDias
2 years ago

Hard to jinx it when you’re virtually half a second faster than everybody else.
Caeleb reached Ledecky status on the 50 free and 100 fly

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Olympian
2 years ago

Tell that to Brazier at track OTs.

anon
Reply to  Olympian
2 years ago

Caeleb doesn’t even have the 50 wr and is only a couple tenths faster than the next fastest 100 fly; he is not even close to the dominance Ledecky achieved over her events.

Emmette Gamble Jr
Reply to  anon
2 years ago

Why are you comparing men’s sprints with women’s distance to define pool dominance?

Philip Johnson
Reply to  anon
2 years ago

Margin of dominance usually goes down with the distance.

anon
Reply to  Philip Johnson
2 years ago

margins of dominance can be compared through analyses of % difference to show proportionally how far a swimmer is ahead of the next best and can also be demonstrated by the frequency of those high level swims. Both of those criteria Ledecky is far stronger than Dressel which is why I was critiquing the original comparison of him to her, it downplays her achievements to say that Dressel has done the same.

some numbers if you’re interested:

Dressel is #3 all time in the 50, #1 textile
He has 6 of the top 25 all time swims
Cielo’s WR is .622%faster than Dressel
in textile, Dressel is .475% faster than Proud (#2 textile)
Proud is .379%… Read more »

deepblue
2 years ago

Soooo when is the pick’ems final results article gonna come out?

Hswimmer
Reply to  deepblue
2 years ago

Right

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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