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In an exclusive report from Yahoo Sports and Pat Forde, 2017 World Champion Caeleb Dressel is set to sign a deal with Speedo on Thursday.
There are no specifics on the deal yet, but Speedo executive John Graham told Yahoo Sports that there will be performance incentives.
“It’s a really good plan to incentivize him to be the best,” Graham said. “We want to enhance the sport of swimming and give Caeleb every chance to achieve his dreams. It’s going to be a cool ride on the way to the Olympics.”
Dressel joins Team Speedo in the footsteps of high school teammate Ryan Murphy and fellow sprint star Nathan Adrian.
Dressel is coming off one of the most decorated NCAA careers in history for the University of Florida, as he won nine individual NCAA titles in his four year career, as well as one relay. He became the first swimmer to ever break 18 seconds in the 50 free, 43 seconds in the 100 fly and 40 seconds in the 100 free.
He is also coming off a very successful 2017 long course season where he won individual gold medals in the 50, 100 free and 100 fly. Although Dressel is pushing aside the hype for now.
“I had one good meet and people freaked out,” he told Yahoo Sports. “I’ve got a lot more work to do.”
Dressel will have a chance to swim in his first (taper) meet as a professional swimmer next week in Irvine, California where he will be vying for a spot on the Pan Pac team to compete in Japan in three weeks. His exact schedule is not known yet. The official psych sheet has yet to be released.
To read the official exclusive report from Yahoo Sports, click here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlaoJephIgi/?hl=en&taken-by=caelebdressel
Official Speedo USA press release:
SPEEDO USA, a division of PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH), today announced that two-time Olympic gold medalist, seven-time FINA World Championships gold medalist and competitive swimming phenom Caeleb Dressel has joined Team Speedo USA, marking his first endorsement since becoming a professional swimmer earlier this year.
Dressel bolsters Speedo’s position as swimming’s most decorated brand, with more Olympic medals won in Speedo than all other swim brands combined. He joins an elite Team Speedo USA competitive roster that includes standouts Nathan Adrian, Missy Franklin, Ryan Murphy, Cullen Jones, Kevin Cordes, Katie Meili, Conor Dwyer, Hali Flickinger and Becca Meyers, who have won a combined 35 Olympic and Paralympic medals, and 43 FINA World Championships medals. Dressel will compete in the Speedo Fastskin line of competitive suits, goggles and caps, and train in the Speedo Turnz line of practice suiting.
“Caeleb is a star, plain and simple,” said Speedo USA President John Graham. “Our goal with Team Speedo is to always build a complete, well-rounded roster of world-class swimmers who will embody Speedo in and out of the pool and connect with our fans across the country. The addition of Caeleb is certain to be part of that tradition, and we cannot wait to see how he grows and shines in our brand in the years to come.”
Dressel, 21, who won gold in two events at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Men’s 4×100-meter medley relay and 4×100-meter freestyle relay), reached superstar status during the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest. There, he became the first-ever swimmer to win three gold medals in a day and only the second swimmer to win seven gold medals in a single meet, earning him the title of “Male Swimmer of the Meet.”
As a senior on the University of Florida’s Men’s Swimming & Diving team, Dressel was named 2017-18 SEC Male Athlete of the Year. He set two stunning records during the 2018 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships, becoming the first-ever swimmer to break the 40-second mark in the 100-yard freestyle (39.90) and go sub-18 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle (17.63). He currently holds seven American long- and short-course records: The Men’s 50-meter freestyle (LC), 100-meter freestyle (LC), 50-meter butterfly (LC), 50-yard freestyle (SC), 100-yard freestyle (SC), 100-yard butterfly (SC) and 200-yard individual medley (SC).
“Signing with Speedo USA has been a surreal first step in my professional career,” said Dressel. “The support of Speedo USA and my new Team Speedo USA teammates is going to be incredibly important as I train to reach my goals. I look forward to joining the ranks of the incredible athletes who have worn Speedo when it’s mattered most.”
Dressel will be featured prominently in Speedo USA’s year-round national marketing, media and digital campaigns, as well as at point-of-sale with major retail partners in the U.S. Outside of the pool, he and Team Speedo USA’s athletes serve as ambassadors for Speedo USA’s Speedo Fit aquatic fitness program, swim and sun safety initiatives, and as inspirational figures for swimmers of all ages.
Dressel will continue to train with his collegiate Coach Gregg Troy, now at the helm of Gator Swim Club in Gainesville, Fla.
Read more about Coach Troy and Dressel in the July issue of Swimming World Magazine
Cool. Speedo must be shooting for the tattoo-hepatitis and hillbilly segments of the marketplace.
Ledecky ..TYR..7 million….Dressel..Speedo.$???..table scraps for Manual…just saying