Tom Shields Breaks Down “Up and Down” Butterfly Showing in Atlanta

2021 ATLANTA CLASSIC

Reported by Nick Pecoraro.

MEN’S 100 FLY — FINALS

  • Meet Record: 51.41, Caeleb Dressel (GSC), 2019
  • Wave II Cut: 53.37
  • Wave I Cut: 54.19

Top 3:

  1. Caeleb Dressel (Gator), 51.15 *Meet Record
  2. Tom Shields (Cal Aquatics), 51.55
  3. Luis Martinez (UNAT), 51.75

Breaking his two-year-old meet record was Gator Swim Club’s Caeleb Dressel, touching in with a season best of 51.15. Shortly after Dressel’s swim, Michael Andrew put up a new PSS record of 50.80 in Indianapolis, quickly taking the top American time this season from Dressel. That’s two meet records making up the top two times in the nation within an hour.

Finishing in second place was Cal’s Tom Shields, posting a season best of 51.55 to rank 3rd in the US this season. Behind him was Guatemalan Luis Martinez at 51.75. Dressel now moves up to 5th in the world rankings while Shields boosts to 15th. Martinez’ season best and U.S. Open meet record of 51.50 remains 13th in the world.

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Marklewis
3 years ago

Tom is swimming fast this year. But he seems kind of “jumpy” in this interview. Maybe that’s just his personality.

He had a super disastrous 200 fly at PanAms, but he recovered and swam a great 100 fly to win gold.

He’s a veteran so he knows what he needs to do to get ready for Omaha. He fought off some tough competition in 2016 to make the team in both the 100 and 200.

Last edited 3 years ago by Marklewis

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