Ryan Hoffer Blasts 18.33 50 Free For 10th Fastest Swim Ever

2021 NCAA MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • When: Wednesday, March 24 – Saturday, March 27, 2021
  • Where: Greensboro Aquatic Center / Greensboro, NC (Eastern Time Zone)
  • Prelims 10 AM/ Finals 6 PM (Local Time)
  • Short course yards (SCY) format
  • Defending champion: Cal (1x) – 2019 results
  • Championship Central
  • Psych Sheets
  • Live Results

Ryan Hoffer is on fire.

After putting up a personal best time of 18.43 in this morning’s 50 free prelims, making him the second-fastest performer in history, the Cal senior successfully defended his NCAA title tonight in 18.33.

The swim slots into 10th on the all-time performances list, with Florida legend Caeleb Dressel occupying spots 1-9. Hoffer’s prelim swim now sits 13th.

All-Time Performances, Men’s 50 Freestyle (SCY)

  1. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 17.63 – 2018
  2. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 17.81 – 2018
  3. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.11 – 2018
  4. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.20 – 2016
  5. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.23 – 2016 / Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.23 – 2017
  6. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.24 – 2016
  7. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.29 – 2016
  8. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.32 – 2016
  9. Ryan Hoffer (Cal), 18.33 – 2021
  10. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.38 – 2017
  11. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.39 – 2016
  12. Ryan Hoffer (Cal), 18.43 – 2021
  13. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.46 – 2017
  14. Cesar Cielo (Auburn), 18.47 – 2008
  15. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 18.51 – 2017
  16. Cesar Cielo (Auburn), 18.52 – 2008 / Matt Targett (Auburn), 18.52 – 2009
  17. Ryan Held (NC State), 18.56 – 2018
  18. Ryan Held (NC State), 18.58 – 2017 / Ryan Hoffer (Cal), 18.58 – 2019

This morning’s swim made Hoffer the third swimmer under 18.5, and now, he becomes just the second sub-18.4.

All-Time Top Performers, Men’s 50 Freestyle (SCY)

  1. Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 17.63 – 2018
  2. Ryan Hoffer (Cal), 18.33 – 2021
  3. Cesar Cielo (Auburn), 18.47 – 2008
  4. Matt Targett (Auburn), 18.52 – 2009
  5. Ryan Held (NC State), 18.56 – 2018

Coming out of high school with a best time of 18.71, Hoffer has really come into his own over the course of his collegiate career, steadily progressing from 18.97 as a freshman to 18.33 as a senior.

Freshman (17-18) Sophomore (18-19) Junior (19-20) Senior (20-21)
18.97 18.58 18.87* 18.33

*didn’t have the opportunity to compete at NCAAs due to the cancellation.

In repeating as the NCAA 50 free champion, Hoffer joins an elite club. Dating back to 1991, only Fred Bousquet (2003-05), Cesar Cielo (2007-08) and Dressel (2015-18) have won back-to-back titles in the event.

Hoffer was joined on tonight’s podium by freshman teammate Bjorn Seeliger, who finished second in a time of 18.71, giving the Golden Bears a 1-2 finish in back-to-back championships after Hoffer and Pawel Sendyk did so in 2019.

In This Story

18
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

18 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
ACC fan
3 years ago

Is it just me or does Hoffer look like Sean Penn in his younger days?

Bruhhh
3 years ago

Posted in other thread but tryna start some convos here…

I need someone to make a video where you play the start of this years 50 final side by side with the 17.6. Imma have that up on my youtube after every 50 final for the next 30-40 years until that record finally goes.

Not to take away from Hoff. His last 10y gives a lot of hope for his 100 and LC prospects. I actually think his last 10 is comparable to Caeleb’s swim but that explosiveness off the start/ wall is something else from CD. What yall think?

Sprint Guy
Reply to  Bruhhh
3 years ago

It’s gunna take 5 years for someone else to break 18 again and another 3 years for that same person to go 17.59. But that’s only if the swimmer’s training advances to be less endurance based as a whole bc Either Dressel has crazy genetics or they’ve pioneered a new way of training the sprints because I don’t understand how 17.63 happened in the first place under Gregg Troy with all of his yardage 🙃

Sprint Guy
Reply to  Bruhhh
3 years ago

Also, not sure off hoff will be able to make the olympic team. He’s fast af, BUT shields had underwaters like him and held the NCAA/American record in the 200fly at one point but still couldn’t crack 1:55 long course for (correct me if I’m wrong) another 4/5 years

Former Big10
3 years ago

Will he stay around for the ISL? I don’t see him making the US team, for the big pool, ever, but he is a joy to watch short course.

CraigH
Reply to  Former Big10
3 years ago

Will he come back for another year of college next year?

Last edited 3 years ago by CraigH
IL swim fan
3 years ago

Great story for so many freshmen who come in thinking they are ready to win…

Splashanddasher
Reply to  IL swim fan
3 years ago

TO BE FAIR. He was like a 41.2 as a 17 year old. I think most people thought he’d blow up once he got to college.

chinnychenchen
3 years ago

long time coming for Hoffer, so happy for him

Also Cal is on fire, jeeeeez. 1-2 once again

Last edited 3 years ago by chinnychenchen
PFA
3 years ago

His stroke doesn’t have a high elbow recovery as I thought it was but maybe that’s a good thing.

Skoorbnagol
3 years ago

Hoffer dropping bombs on the same day ISL announces new season.
He’ll be recruited by Sunday am…
Anyone feeling a 4×100 spot in the summer for him?

Mr Piano
Reply to  Skoorbnagol
3 years ago

Historically he’s not as rad Long course because less undies

Sun Yangs Hammer
Reply to  Mr Piano
3 years ago

But those are the dirtiest undies in human history

Right Dude Here
Reply to  Sun Yangs Hammer
3 years ago

I would respectfully submit that Tom Shields had some pretty gnarly underwaters. Schooling also comes to mind.

Joe
Reply to  Right Dude Here
3 years ago

There’s also that fella who’s swum faster than 18.33 nine times.

Chunky Ragu
3 years ago

Lol, the late great Chunky Ragu went 16.9 in a Speedo last week

R&R
Reply to  Chunky Ragu
3 years ago

Late great? Did the 16.9 kill him?

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

Read More »