Caeleb Dressel recently spoke with Nitro Swim Club during his visit to Austin, Texas. He ended his discuss with a Q&A, where he was asked what the most memorable race of his career was. For someone who has won at every stage and boasts numerous Olympic, World, and NCAA titles, Dressel gave a surprising answer.
The 21x World Champion conjured a story from when he was 12-years-old and swam the 200 IM at a Zone meet. This race stood out in Dressel’s mind because it was the first time he can remember bein nervous before a race but then executing it to the best of his ability. Unsurprisingly, he won the race.
17.63 or his 100 fly duel against Milak in 2021 for me
17.63 is obviously the answer. The entirety of 2018 NCAAs was very very memorable for the swim world. But his 49.50 from semis in 2019 is one of my favorites, and the Tokyo 100 free was of course a big one.
His ISL performances in 2020 also shook the swim world. They are somewhat forgotten now compared to the ones I already mentioned, but if you go back and look at comment sections, people were worshipping Caeleb. And I think his 49.28 100 IM could stay the longest of any of his records.
Did he discuss the races he missed at the 2022 World Championships? Seems like those would be pretty memorable with regard to his career arc.
Races he didn’t swim are more memorable than some of the fastest swims in history?
You’re trying too hard.
17.63 will always be the most memorable from a fan’s perspective. The landscape of short-course sprinting changed that night and everyone is still trying to catch up.
His whole meet that week was insane! It was random chance that we went to the meet (my son picked it as a birthday trip) and it was absolutely unforgettable.
40.00 in the 100 free. Next year he broke 40.
I will always remember the 200 free I lost by fractions of a second. To a guy I raced several times over the years, and ‘won some, lost some’. But this one was back and forth; got the lead, lost it, got it, lost it. A bunch of loud cheering. When it was over, we both were jacked up. I loved the moment, and we shared it together. SO: The caption said it was a ‘surprising’ answer. I figured it would be surprising if Dressel dredged up some loss he remembers. But, I’m sure he doesn’t have as many losses to put on the list!
17.63 is my personal favorite.
17.63 or breaking MP 100 fly wr. No other choices imo
Tokyo 100 free is up there.