Dressel Talks Records, 4×200 Free, Starts, and School

by Robert Gibbs 25

July 29th, 2017 International, News

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Caeleb Dressel answered a host of questions about various and sundry topics after his triple gold sessions on Day 7 of the 2017 World Championships.  Here’s a few of the highlights:

About not swimming the 4×200 free relay Friday, despite finishing 6th in the 200 free at the US Trials…

Yes I was annoyed that I couldn’t look at the 800m. That would have been two nights in a row with three events. Too much. That’s not impossible but I am glad I didn’t. The best interest for team USA was not to swim it. I trust my coach on this.

The USA settled for a bronze in the 4×200 free relay, and there was some speculation that an on-fire Dressel may have been able to throw down something special and help the USA win.  However, that would’ve been his third swim of the night and still would not have guaranteed the US gold.  Instead, Dressel conserved his energy and won golds in the 50 free, 100 fly, and the 4×100 mixed free relay on Saturday.

Regarding Saturday’s triple…

After the medal ceremony, it is exciting when you have to run to another race. It is physically tiring and mental straining. You gotta take one swim at a time and recover fairly quickly.

Asked about his explosive start, that enables Dressel to pop up well ahead of his competition, he said…

Most of the start work comes from weight lifting. I am not doing anything specific and I don’t train this everyday. It comes naturally, from strength training. I try to be ahead in the start.

Dressel also tried to deflect some attention from himself, eschewing comparisons to Michael Phelps and talking about how the US is loaded with young talent across a number of events.

And while Dressel said he’s not thinking about Tokyo, instead preferring to focus on tomorrow’s races, Dressel did mention that he’s been studying while at worlds, with a college test coming up soon.

Courtesy of “Yes Swim.”

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Dave
6 years ago

He seems like an intelligent and kind person. Also, he’s somewhat busy with swimming. Please don’t take this the wrong way. However… “college algebra”? Hmm. My eighth grader daughter is starting algebra in a couple of weeks.

Stephen
Reply to  Dave
6 years ago

The fact that you even think that your daughter’s 8th grade algebra is the algebra that Caleb is referring to is incredible. Please don’t make comments about a student’s intellect when you yourself have no idea what you are talking about

Dave
Reply to  Stephen
6 years ago

Now that you’ve gone straight internet tough guy and both posted that I “have no idea what I’m talking about” (even though you don’t know me at all) and deliberately ignored my praising Dressel’s apparent intellect, I feel the need to respond. What mysterious branch of algebra do you think we’re talking about here? Please fill me in. I suspect linear algebra is unlikely, but perhaps?

Just Sayin
Reply to  Dave
6 years ago

And not that it matters but “college algebra” is often equivalent to pre-calc

Prfny
Reply to  Dave
6 years ago

Don’t worry I had the same thought! It is a basic math course no matter what the folks below are commenting but most business and liberal arts majors don’t need higher level math like calculus.

sven
Reply to  Dave
6 years ago

Eh. He’s not trying to be an engineer. College algebra and trig will be more than enough to get almost every non-STEM/finance/accounting major ready for the workforce. I wouldn’t wish calc 3 on my worst enemy, let alone a nice guy like Caeleb Dressel who can make money in a much more exciting way.

Dhgator
Reply to  Dave
6 years ago

Sure, all algebra is based on the same basic concepts and operations, but there is a broad scale in terms of complexity and diffuculty. Very unlikely, and mildly asinine to suggest, that your 8th grade daughter will be doing college algebra level work.

Pvdh
6 years ago

Full Caeleb Dressel press conference
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R9fePT1OPGY

Jake
6 years ago

What college test? School hasn’t started yet…

swimmer!
Reply to  Jake
6 years ago

It’s common for teams to encourage the students to stay in the summer to train as well as take courses. That way they can lessen the load of school and swimming during the year, and they can still graduate in four years. It’s not necessary, but it definitely can help out the students that have a hard time balancing 15+ credits and college swimming.

Joel Lin
6 years ago

He’s going to be the ‘it’ guy in the 2019-20 pre-Olympic sponsor’s salad crop. He’s going to do very well.

And good for him.

Brad Jillow
Reply to  Joel Lin
6 years ago

50 bucks says MP signs him

crooked donald
Reply to  Joel Lin
6 years ago

And he’ll be pro by then, so ka-ching.

aubrey drake
6 years ago

is it really that hard to link to where ever the original article appears online?

samuel huntington
6 years ago

good for him to deflect on the Michael Phelps comparisons. that’s what the media wants and it’s silly.

Danjohnrob
Reply to  samuel huntington
6 years ago

Definitely comparing apples and oranges!

WaitAMinute
Reply to  Danjohnrob
6 years ago

“That phrase don’t make no sense! Why can’t fruit be compared?”

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  WaitAMinute
6 years ago

he is right – u can’t compare

crooked donald
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
6 years ago

Especially since he would have had Phelps by a body length at the start.

Matterson
Reply to  samuel huntington
6 years ago

Also very mature to deflect those sorts of conversations. He lets the swimming do the talking, very impressed!

pvdh
6 years ago

On that answer about his starts, what he really meant was “LOL i aint telling anyone how I do that”

Chia Pet
Reply to  pvdh
6 years ago

Even in high school, his starts were ridiculous. Add the muscle from maturation and the Gator’s strength program, and it is out of this world.

R&R
Reply to  pvdh
6 years ago

He’s got what, a 41″ vertical jump? So the answer is: “primarily genetics”

Philip Johnson
Reply to  R&R
6 years ago

Yup, some things you can’t train.

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