We had to ask the question, does Caeleb Dressel feel pressure to fill the Michael Phelps void?
Dressel was sixth in the 200m free last summer at U.S. Nationals, but he didn’t swim on Team USA’s 800 free relay at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest. Of course Dressel didn’t need an extra event. He tied Michael Phelps‘ World Championship all-time performance (from 2007) with seven gold medals.
Michael Phelps, Caeleb Dressel – 2016 Olympic Games (by simone castrovillari)
Dressel’s response on the Phelps void question came across, as expected, authentic and honest. Dressel doesn’t think Team USA has a talent void.
Following up on the question about Phelps expectations for Tokyo 2020, Dressel acknowledged that his 2017 Worlds performance would put the spotlight on him–but he’s focused on creating his own pressure. Dressel corrected himself, saying, “responsibility, and I like that word a little bit better.” In sum, it sounds like Dressel’s internalizing his motivations, staying true to his own goals no matter how much we predict, argue and/or debate his future.
2018 SUMMER PREDICTIONS? I’m sticking by my previous predictions for Caeleb.
- 20.89 50m free
- 46.9 100m free
- 49 low 100m fly
***Yes, I know that’s toppling three world records from the tech-suit era, and I am fully aware Caeleb will probably swim faster than the times above.
What do you think?
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
No
I think one of the most impressive parts of the Phelps legacy is longevity. So being the next Phelps isn’t something that can happen in a single year, let alone a single Olympic cycle. It’s gradual. As for times, I’ll break my self-imposed rule against predicting Dressel because I just can’t help myself:
20.90 / 46.70 free
49.40 fly
1:53.70 2IM (yup)
59.40 breast (doubt he will do that, but that’s where I think he would get)
200 Free Relay Split = 1:44.99
we could see that this summer already …..
Would love to see him put up a 100 breast, 200 IM, and 200 free tapered.
I know it’s tough to convert yards to meters–so variable based on the swimmer’s skill set–but it’s reasonable to think that 17.6 yards is 20.4 meters, 39.9 yards is 46.2 meters, and a 42 yards fly is 48 high meters. Moreover, it’s not unreasonable to think that Dressel might be the first under 20 in the 50 meter free and the first to go a 45 100 meter free before he hangs it up.
It’s completely unreasonable. Who other than Dressel thought a 17.63 was reasonable? It would be unfortunate to lose track of what a treat it is to see him swim right now, in his time. 2004, 2007, 2008 Phelps expanded the swimming universe. I think we are in for a real treat this summer and beyond. We are witness to a phenomenon. Enjoy it!
not happening. You think he still has 1.2 seconds to drop in the 50? No one has been under 20 SCM.
We will NEVER see another Michael Phelps. Not in our lifetimes not in anyone’s lifetime. No way, no how, no chance.
The media needs a story to grab onto to make people interested in swimming and want to follow the sport. Dressel stepped into the vacuum left by Phelps.
I think his history of having quit the sport once should tell us that we (the fans) should give the man some space to grow into a healthy adulthood.
I don’t want to hear stories that Dressel is having trouble coping with the “expectations.”
We don’t treat football or basketball that way. Open platforms for those sports dive deep on these topics.
Still, you are right. We are media, and we want to further the big topics of conversation.
Elites should see the conversation for what it is– passion for their sport.
(BTW, elites comment on this platform. I know bc they ask me to guess who they are, and 9 times out 10, I get it wrong. And they check in to see commenters they are familiar with.)
If elites really do comment on this platform, I want to know why Will Licon hasn’t proposed to me yet.
Just out of curiosity wonder what Dressel bench presses. Peatty is at 286, Dressel 300, 350?
Not 350. I would guess Peaty can bench more, have you seen him flex??
Peaty said on camera he benches 280lb. Dean Farris can bench 280 kg though. And Schooling has benched 2.8 tons in practice.
We need to ask this question. It’s a metric we can all relate to….but for athletic performance, I’ve never thought bench mattered (though I always tried to bench a lot). Athlete performance is all about snap, your vertical leap. ***I wouldn’t be surprised if Dressel doesn’t bench at all.
Yeah in terms of functional, swim specific strength, a heavy bench press is one of the more worthless exercises IMO.
Some of its a function of body type. Guys with T-Rex arms can do a lot more than guys with long arms like Phelps. I would put him in the 225 category and he probably does 6-8 of em in a set as I doubt he max lifts while in training