Dressel: “That Was One of the Most Technically Correct 100 Frees I’ve Swum”

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

200 fly champion Hali Flickinger, and the top four men in the 100 free — Caeleb Dressel, Zach Apple, Blake Pieroni, and Brooks Curry fielded questions shortly after the end of Thursday night’s session at the 2021 US Olympic Trials.

Asked about tonight’s race, Dressel said that he

…thought that was one of the most technically correct 100 Frees I’ve swum, so really happy with my approach to that.  Parts of this meet that are quite unfortunate. I wish 100 Free was a little bit earlier so I could get the weight off my shoulders, but I’m fine with where we are at right now. I’m looking forward to 100 Fly tomorrow and then 50 Free after that. 

Dressel was asked about the possibility of Florida sweeping the men’s freestyles. Current Gators Kieran Smith has won the 200 and 400 free, and Bobby Finke won the 800 tonight.

I look up to both those guys. I don’t care if they’re younger than me, what they brought to the university. I’ve learned things from both of them, so we’ll keep the ball rolling. I’m not guaranteed any wins or anything like that, sweeping the freestyle events. I’ve got a butterfly event to swim tomorrow so I’m focused on that. 

Flickinger, who is a University of Georgia alum who recently made the switch to train under Bob Bowman at Arizona State, described how the training environment there has helped her.

ASU took a year off of college swimming, so I got to spend every day with them. We were all on the same schedule. I just was able to spend so much time with them, which I think really helped relieve my mind, because I was just having fun and enjoying it. Yeah. 

 

WOMEN’S 200 FLY FINAL

  • World Record: Liu Zige (CHN) – 2:01.81 (2009)
  • American Record: Mary Descenza – 2:04.14 (2009)
  • US Open Record: Hali Flickinger (USA) – 2:05.87 (2018)
  • World Junior Record: Suzuka Hasegawa (JPN) – 2:06.29 (2017)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP) – 2:04.85
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Cammile Adams – 2:06.80
  • Wave I Cut: 2:14.59
  • Wave II Cut: 2:12.56
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 2:08.43
  1. Hali Flickinger (SUN), 2:05.85 US
  2. Regan Smith (RIPT), 2:06.99
  3. Charlotte Hook (TAC), 2:07.92

As we’ve seen numerous times over the past few years, Hali Flickinger and Regan Smith locked horns once again in the women’s 200 fly final, with Smith, as usual, jumping on the early lead.

Flickinger didn’t let her get away, however, and the two turned almost dead-even at the 100, just under 1:00. Flickinger pulled away on the last 50, out-splitting Smith by almost a full second in 33.12, as she earns the right to represent the U.S. in this event at a second straight Olympics.

Flickinger took one back for the veterans, in a sense, as we’ve seen the youngsters come out on top in a lot of the events recently, especially on the women’s side.

Oh, and Flickinger’s time was pretty good too.

Her 2:05.85 improves on her personal best by .02, set in 2018, lowering her own U.S. Open Record. The UGA grad notably changed training bases, joining Bob Bowman at ASU, after winning silver at the 2019 Worlds in this event.

Smith held on for second in 2:06.99, six-tenths off her PB, to add a second event in Tokyo.

17-year-old TAC Titan Charlotte Hook made a valiant charge late in the race, ultimately taking third in 2:07.92. Hook was a PB of 2:07.87 in 2019.

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Crown
3 years ago

Look at curry man so inspirational

Coachy
3 years ago

Can USA Swimming get an image consultant to recommend to these guys what to wear on the podium? Dressel looks professional and the others look like summer league swimmers.

Crown
Reply to  Coachy
3 years ago

Don’t hate on the drip boomer

Becky D
Reply to  Coachy
3 years ago

High-priced image consultant: “Wear your Team USA gear from now on.”

Tokyo-bound Swimmers: “Ok”

LBJ
3 years ago

The 100 free final is going to be fun to watch at the Olympics, Dressel will definitely be out in front. But it seems that Apple and Chalmers have similar game plans now, flying home the last 25.

Andy
3 years ago

Just thinking about how Mary T. Meagher’s 2:05.96 200 fly from 1981 would have snagged 2nd and maybe she would have won with the current FINA starting block!

DLswim
Reply to  Andy
3 years ago

And technical suits

Swammerstein
3 years ago

Dressel is likely not fully rested as troy loves to do with his best swimmers at trials. i think theres more to come from him and he also just beat chalmers swim from like 2 days ago

Joris Bohnson
3 years ago

If Chalmers turns sub 23 , Dressel is f*cked

Dudeman
Reply to  Joris Bohnson
3 years ago

22.99 Won’t win it. 22.6 puts him right in line with a 47.0 given how a 24.3 is pretty common for his 2nd 50 and that may be enough, but I’d imagine dresse will be out in 22.3 and coming back in 24.6 so it could be super tight like in 2019

Joris Bohnson
3 years ago

Chalmers 46.8 in tokyo

Beach bum jason
3 years ago

Imagine what he will do when he’s fully tapered in Tokyo

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