Caeleb Dressel Smashes 100 IM World Record To Become First Man Sub-50

2020 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – SEMIFINAL #2

About 30 minutes after setting a new American Record in the 100 freestyle, Caeleb Dressel recorded the fastest swim in history in the 100 individual medley.

Dressel destroyed the field en route to a final time of 49.88, becoming the first swimmer to eclipse the elusive 50-second barrier. The previous world record sat at 50.26, done by Russian Vladimir Morozov twice in 2018.

Less than a week ago, Dressel set the American Record in the event in a time of 50.48, which erased the 2012 mark of 50.71 held by his Florida training partner Ryan Lochte.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 100 IM

Rank Swimmer Time Year
1 Caeleb Dressel (USA) 49.88 2020
2 Vladimir Morozov (RUS) 50.26 2018
3 Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) 50.63 2018
4 Markus Deibler (GER) 50.66 2014
5 Ryan Lochte (USA) 50.71 2012

Prior to this swim, Morozov held the seven fastest performances in history, all coming between 50.26 and 50.36. He still owns eight out of the top-10, with Dressel now owning #1 and #9.

Split Comparison

Compared to his swim from six days ago, Dressel was out a bit quicker in 22.79, but made up most of his ground on the closing 50.

Dressel, Match 10 Dressel, Semi 2
22.96 22.79
27.52 27.09
50.48 49.88

Compared to Morozov’s old world record (the first time he broke it), Dressel was better by around two-tenths on both 50s.

Morozov, 2018 Dressel, 2020
22.96 22.79
27.30 27.09
50.26 49.88

Dressel’s Cali teammate Marcin Cieslak was the runner-up in the event, clocking 51.14 for a new Polish Record, giving the Condors all 37 points in the event as Dressel jackpotted the rest of the field. Cieslak set the previous record of 51.36 back in Match 10.

In This Story

59
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

59 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Pete Manieri
3 years ago

C D 200IM in Tokyo…?
Is it feasible with all his other swims…?

Pvdh
Reply to  Pete Manieri
3 years ago

Dude is uncorking 45.0 here on his 4th swim in an hour. He can definitely add a 4th individual event.

TheSwimSuitGuy
3 years ago

This was so exciting, check the reaction video

https://youtu.be/8cFoYjXmXjA

Swimmer
Reply to  TheSwimSuitGuy
3 years ago

Gtfo

Hmm
3 years ago

Boom

Kane
3 years ago

Dressel has enormous and long arms, huge back. Morozov has little hands and short arms. Morozov would win running but swimming he can not beat that monster.

Luigi
3 years ago

I hope the Tokyo Olympics can be saved, because he will not be at this level forever and it would be a shame. He deserves to cement his legacy at the Games.

Runnergrl37
Reply to  Luigi
3 years ago

Me too. I think this would be his time to shine. He’s in his prime and to not have a chance would be really sad.

Aquajosh
Reply to  Luigi
3 years ago

The Tokyo Olympics will happen even if they have to bubble athletes like the ISL and pipe in crowd noise. There is too much television and advertising money at stake.

Kane
3 years ago

Dressel has enormous and long arms, huge back. Morozov has little hands and short arms. Morozov would win running but swimming he can not beat that monster.

BKP
3 years ago

Found a video that is up…for now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcDjWJEZfDs

AvidSwimFan
3 years ago

I hate that I had to miss this because of work. Why oh why couldn’t it have been Saturday and Sunday hours apart to enable all of us share watch this moment happen?

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

Read More »