At a press conference in Gainesville on Thursday, Florida Head Coach Gregg Troy and American Record holder Caeleb Dressel addressed the media about the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials. When asked about the qualities that make Caeleb so successful, Troy compared Dressel to one of the best athletes to ever come out of the Florida swimming program: Olympic champion Ryan Lochte. One of the similarities between the two is their versatility. While Caeleb’s best skill set is speed at the moment, Troy believes he could keep up with the best in events other than the sprint frees. Because this is an Olympic year, the focus has been on the 50 and 100, but Troy doesn’t think we’ve seen all that Caeleb can do in his other events.
At trials next month, Dressel will focus on the 50 and 100 freestyles, but may play around with some other events. We could see him in the 100 fly, 100 breast, and 200 free. That’s a decision they’ll make closer to the start of the meet, but Troy seems confident in his ability to perform well in any of those 3 events.
Why always that very curious idea of adding other events to a swimmer’s schedule?
200 free or 100 fly in the future, why not.
But come on, the 100 breast…. 😥 100 breast in SCY and in LCM are 2 different sports. I don’t believe it one second.
Anyway, if you want to win the 50 free, you need to specialize the most possible and be the freshest possible.
Same for the 100. You need to be fresh.
1 gold is better than 1 bronze and another final.
Do you believe that McEvoy or Manaudou wonder if they’ll swim the 100 breast and the 100 fly?
Dressel is a sprint freestyle beast. At… Read more »
Those two events aren’t all that bad for him, for starters. Additionally, the BR doesn’t really contend with anything, it’s an opportunity to get used to the trials protocol again in a low pressure event. The 100 fly fits nicely around the 50 free for prelims and semi-finals. He could always scratch and give the energy systems needed for the 50, one could assume he’ll be fine. I’d swim prelims of the fly and call it good.. Taking on the schedule they do at NCAAs is pretty good prep for a ton of racing.
Coach Troy hits on a key thing here: Caeleb Dressel is not really a drop dead sprinter. I know that sounds insane to say given that he went an 18.2 in the 50 yard freestyle, but keep in mind that he also went a 1:48 in the 200m freestyle at the age of 16 (if I recall correctly) which is an impossible time for a drop-dead sprinter. In that sense, Florida has been very blessed with Dressel. True drop-dead sprinters are very difficult to fit into the normal swim training paradigm, with high levels of slow, aerobic training to build the base. Real drop dead sprinters like Anthony Ervin, Dara Torres, and (maybe) Florent Manadou usually have to take a… Read more »
If he starts saying “Jeah”… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO4lG6tRAHs
Yeah, I’ll watch the video and fully read the article next time lol.
If that is the case, then it behooves him to remember that Lochte medaled in exactly 1 individual event in 2004, when he was the same age Dressel is now. Stick to your bread and butter, at least for your 1st Olympics. It would be great if he could medal in the 50 and 100, and help the team 1 or possibly 2 relays. Beyond that could be a costly crap shoot.
One of the best to come out of Florida?
You disagree?
I do because he he the best to ever come out of Florida
I’m not saying I disagree that he’s the best. You could certainly make that case, but then others might argue that Dara Torres is the best. It’s really based on opinion and whether or not you’re talking about strictly male athletes, short course versus long course, etc. It depends on how you’re looking at it. But any way you put it, Lochte is one of the best.
I don’t see the debate here.
Lauren is right. Lochte is one of the best athletes to ever come out of Florida.
He’s by far the best male swimmer to ever come out of Florida so it’s logical to write he’s one of the best. 🙂
We’ll see in 10 years what Dressel has won at worlds and olympic games to compare both guys. Even if it’s tough to compare as they don’t swim the same events.
Right now there’s an ocean between them.
But both will stay in history as 2 of the best swimmers to ever come out of Florida. I don’t take risks by writing that. 🙂