Caeleb Dressel Unleashes 4th Fastest Swim All-Time In 50 Free Final – 21.04

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

American Caeleb Dressel kicked off his busy finals session on day seven with a bang, winning the men’s 50 freestyle in a new Championship and American Record.

Dressel produced a time of 21.04, making him the #3 performer of all-time behind Cesar Cielo and Fred Bousquet, and it was also the fourth-fastest swim ever trailing two swims from Cielo and one from Bousquet. Previously, he owned the seventh-fastest swim in history and was the #4 performer of all-time.

ALL-TIME PERFORMERS, MEN’S 50 FREE

  1. Cesar Cielo (BRA), 20.91 – 2009
  2. Fred Bousquet (FRA), 20.94 – 2009
  3. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 21.04 – 2019
  4. Ben Proud (GBR), 21.11 – 2018
  5. Ashley Callus (AUS) / Florent Manaudou (FRA),  21.19 – 2009/2015
  6. George Bovell (TTO), 21.20 – 2009
  7. Alain Bernard (FRA), 21.23 – 2009
  8. Amaury Leveaux (FRA), 21.25 – 2009
  9. Bruno Fratus (BRA), 21.27 – 2017

All three of the swims faster than him were super-suited from 2009, making him the new textile world record holder. The previous fastest ever textile swim came from Great Britain’s Ben Proud, who hit 21.11 last year.

The 22-year-old extinguished the previous meet record held by Cielo at 21.08 from 2009, and also his own American Record of 21.15 set at the World Championships two years ago where he also won gold.

ALL-TIME PERFORMANCES, MEN’S 50 FREE

  1. Cesar Cielo (BRA), 20.91 – 2009
  2. Fred Bousquet (FRA), 20.94 – 2009
  3. Cesar Cielo (BRA), 21.02 – 2009
  4. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 21.04 – 2019
  5. Cesar Cielo (BRA), 21.08 – 2009
  6. Ben Proud (GBR), 21.11 – 2018
  7. Cesar Cielo (BRA), 21.14 – 2009
  8. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 21.15 – 2017
  9. Ben Proud (GBR), 21.16 – 2018
  10. Fred Bousquet (FRA), 21.17 – 2009

This swim gives the former Florida Gator a personal best time in all four of his individual events here in Gwangju, and is a now three-for-three in terms of gold medals individually. He has already set the American Record and won the 50 fly (22.35) and 100 free (46.96), and will go for the 100 fly gold later in the session after setting the world record of 49.50 in the semis.

2017 silver medalist Bruno Fratus of Brazil repeated his position in a time of 21.45, tying with Kristian Gkolomeev who became the second-ever Greek man to win a medal at LC Worlds.

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Josh
5 years ago

Great swim! Am disappointed none of his competition could deliver in this race.. proud only 21.55 bleh

SD3914
5 years ago

There isn’t a superlative I can come up with that hasn’t been used lol. It’s so late in the meet and he has had to step up on the blocks with absurdly high expectations time and time again, and then execute. He has really put on a race management clinic after rebounding from that first relay swim, which he must have been really unhappy with.

swim4fun
Reply to  SD3914
5 years ago

Great point

Wondering
Reply to  SD3914
5 years ago

Imagine living in a world where you can’t recognize nor understand Caeleb’s accomplishments.

Jason
5 years ago

This is a textile suit world record right? That’s a big deal I didn’t see that mentioned anywhere

ButterPeanut
Reply to  James Sutherland
5 years ago

Reading is hard

Dudeman
Reply to  ButterPeanut
5 years ago

to be fair some of those words have more than 2 syllables

Pvdh
5 years ago

Longhorn takes the bait so quickly lmfao

M Palota
5 years ago

All SEC podium: Florida, Auburn & Alabama.

Admin
Reply to  M Palota
5 years ago

HA!! I know he trained there, but I don’t think Fratus was a student at Auburn, was he?

M Palota
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

I can’t see anything that says Fratus was ever a student at Auburn.

Markster
5 years ago

Greatest sprinter ever

Sean S
Reply to  Markster
5 years ago

Can we wait until he wins an individual Olympic medal until we have that talk? His 17 & 19 worlds are about as good as any back to back worlds I can think of, but ultimately the pinnacle of this sport is the Olympics. Popov’s 50-100 double is still unimpeachable.

J2k
Reply to  Sean S
5 years ago

Hard for me to agree and hold that view after seeing Icarus on Netflix.

Ryan
Reply to  Markster
5 years ago

I think that still goes to Cielo. 3 straight world championships in a 50 free is unprecedented.

Bob
Reply to  Ryan
5 years ago

Cielo was only good in one event. He doesn’t compare to Dressel who is elite in 4 events.

SlickNick
Reply to  Bob
5 years ago

You got give him at least 2, he does have both 50&100 WR’s still

Tim
Reply to  SlickNick
5 years ago

He wasn’t much of a factor in the 100 without the suit. Never won a medal in the 100 without a full body suit.

Pvdh
Reply to  Tim
5 years ago

Although…he was the first to match PVDHs 47.84 without a suit

Wondering
Reply to  Ryan
5 years ago

About those suspensions though….

Swimmer
5 years ago

I think that Dressel will break the record next year, I hope Manaudou’s comeback along will make it a great race but right now I don’t see anybody even close

BaldingEagle
Reply to  Swimmer
5 years ago

Side discussion of Dressel v Manaudou is who is more ripped.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  BaldingEagle
5 years ago

Simone.

Go Violets
Reply to  BaldingEagle
5 years ago

Ben proud is probably more ripped.

Ryan
Reply to  Go Violets
5 years ago

Grothe

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Ryan
5 years ago

Haas

Mr Piano
5 years ago

Remember when Ol’ Longhorn said that Proud’s first 15m were as good as Dressel?

Wondering
Reply to  Mr Piano
5 years ago

Did Proud borrow you for this week?

Pvdh
Reply to  Wondering
5 years ago

Ouch

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Mr Piano
5 years ago

Based on exactly what, says Mr. Popov, double 50/100 Olympic gold champ (not zero), held both WRs (not neither), held the 50 free record for 8 years? Zion Williamson is the basketball GOAT. Sure didn’t hit your sub-21?

Wondering
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Ol’ Charmin….

Endimione
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Hey if you really got some fun, dive into piss

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Mr Piano
5 years ago

Remember when Mr. Piano said he’d break 21?

Wondering
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Mr. Whipple says “Don’t squeeze the Longhorn….”

Pvdh
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

“Motorcycle man has peaked”

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 …

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