Nathan Adrian on 2021 Trials: “Not what I was hoping for, certainly”

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Reported by James Sutherland.

MEN’S 50 FREE FINAL

  • World Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 20.91 (2009)
  • American Record: Caeleb Dressel – 21.04 (2019)
  • US Open Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 21.14 (2009)
  • World Junior Record: Michael Andrew (USA) – 21.75 (2017)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Anthony Ervin (USA) – 21.40
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Nathan Adrian – 21.51
  • Wave I Cut: 23.19
  • Wave II Cut: 22.71
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 22.01
  1. Caeleb Dressel (GSC), 21.04 =AR
  2. Michael Andrew (RPC), 21.48
  3. Nathan Adrian (CAL), 21.73

Caeleb Dressel used his game-changing start to launch himself into clear water right off the hop in the men’s 50 freestyle final, soaring to victory in a time of 21.04 to tie his American Record set at the 2019 World Championships.

Dressel’s swim also lowers the U.S. Open Record of 21.14, set by Cesar Cielo in 2009, and ties for both the fourth-fastest swim ever and the fastest textile swim of all-time.

The 22-year-old Dressel solidifies his entry into three individual events in Tokyo, as did the race’s runner-up, Michael Andrew.

Andrew, who won the 100 breast and 200 IM earlier in the meet, closed like a freight train to separate himself from the rest of the field and touch second in 21.48, just two one-hundredths off his personal best set at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships.

Touching third was the veteran, the all-time great, Nathan Adrian.

Adrian, 32, clocked 21.73 to finish third, .05 quicker than his semi-final swim to mark his fastest swim since 2016. This will be the first time since 2004 that Adrian is absent from the U.S. Olympic team.

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NANCY LAM
2 years ago

For not making the Olympic team, this ruined Nathan Adrian‘s chances to fulfill his another Olympic dreams.

Xman
2 years ago

The thing is we could probably use him on a relay and he will produce results. What we can’t do is have him swim multiple rounds. He can’t swim through prelims semi and finals without getting slower each time. It just happens as you get older.

Cate
2 years ago

Hallie Adrian is the luckiest woman on the planet.

Landen
Reply to  Cate
2 years ago

Usually I’d say something like “lets not over glorify these human athletes” but in the case of Nathan I literally cannot disagree with you

Chris
2 years ago

he’s make a great commentator.

Getting older sucks. I’m 43 and the worst part is that you can’t recover from hard work like you used to.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Chris
2 years ago

Just wait.

James
2 years ago

More power to him to stay on the sport – from a standpoint of building a stronger “business” around swimming I think it is important to have a good mix of veteran names and up-and-coming new guys. Adrian is a guy who has solid name recognition and brand potential, and I think brands seeing famous swimmers as a target is important. Dressel isn’t exactly “new”, but I think he has the potential to have a “Phelps-esque” run on medals in Tokyo and move into that level of fame that only a few swimmers have ever achieved.

SwimFan NU
2 years ago

🥺🥺🥺

Joel Lin
2 years ago

He will be 35 in 2024. I’d say he’s likely to make the relay at Trials in 2024, as did Lezak in his final meet. I also hope so very much.

Eric the Eel > Michael Phelps
2 years ago

I feel like Adrian is going to comeback in Paris

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Coleman Hodges

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