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
Caeleb Dressel recorded his fastest 50 free swim since his extended break from the sport on Thursday morning at the U.S. Open, clocking 22.35 in what was his first long course outing since the U.S. Nationals early in the summer.
The reigning Olympic champion and two-time world champion in the event, Dressel’s swim is a far cry from his lifetime best of 21.04, but is an encouraging sign that he’s making progress as he continues to come back after sitting out of competition for nearly a full year.
The swim is officially Dressel’s fastest since April 30, 2022, 19 months to the day, which was when he clocked 21.29 at the U.S. International Team Trials. That comes with a bit of a caveat, however, as he flipped in 22.33 leading off the U.S. men’s 400 free relay at the World Championships before he ultimately withdrew from the meet prior to the individual 50 free.
Before today, Dressel had logged three 50 free swims since his return to competition at the Atlanta Classic in May, with the fastest coming at that meet in a time of 22.57.
At U.S. Nationals, he scratched out of the ‘C’ final after tying for 22nd in the prelims in 22.72.
Dressel’s 50 Free Swims Since Comeback
- 2023 Atlanta Classic (Prelims) – 22.92
- 2023 Atlanta Classic (Final) – 22.57
- 2023 U.S. Nationals (Prelims) – 22.72
- 2023 U.S. Open (Prelims) – 22.35
The 27-year-old finished 13th in this morning’s prelims, with NC State redshirt freshman Quintin McCarty leading the field as the only swimmer sub-22 in a lifetime best of 21.94.
You can watch Dressel’s swim below, courtesy of USA Swimming on YouTube, out of Lane 6:
Dressel is also scheduled to race the 100 free and 100 fly later in the meet.
Congratulations
21.99 JUST UNDER 22! couple months he’ll be crushing 22 just like he did at his peak. Dressel making a comeback!!!! I believe in him and Gods on his side!!! Isiah 40:31
Reading the headline, my reaction was: he’s back! But no, he even didn’t make the final….
Caeleb is on his own jouŕney, he is back swimming, fast times will còme, it is what it is.
Its a hard pill to swallow.. but dressel is on the decline. Typical post college swimmer – not going to have any more fast times anytime soon
Typical post college swimmer?
Says the all district high school world champion. You’re a bit of a goon.
So not sure if you read the article but he has actually gotten faster over the past year. I know this is a hard pill to swallow, but getting faster is actually the opposite of declining
More interested in his 100 free time. Good sign if he can break into the 48s
looks very choppy and not as smooth – as if he is fighting the water,
I think that’s how he swims his sprints in my opinion. We should see more “finesse” in his 100-free, with the same straight-arm chop in the last 10ish meters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJrs2yy02AI
Stroke looks different just can’t figure out why it doesn’t look as smooth – maybe leg strength and kick speed puts him higher in water in this video?
Yeah I think I see it. Video angle and quality from this morning also aren’t doing us any favors though.
You’re comparing whatever form Dressel’s in right now to his fully-tapered, peak of his career. Of course his stroke is going to look smoother.
Gator cho(m)p.
He appears to be on the same trajectory as Simone Manuel which means he is borderline irrelevant for intl competition
That makes no sense. Dressel doesn’t have “overtraining syndrome” or whatever. He just significant time off so he has to get back in shape.
Dressel will be fine by next year he knows what he has to do and doesn’t make up excuses or snob his competitors when they do better then him like Manuel
I agree dressel will be fine, but be easy on manuel. put yourself in her shoes bro, as an elite athlete theres a lot of pressures, doing it for their country, michael phelps said it a lot of people have the talent to make it to the top, they just don’t know how to deal with the pressure. manuel had overtraining syndrome and probably post olympic blues