Flash! Caeleb Dressel Shatters Another WR With Show-Stopper in 100 IM
As Caeleb Dressel climbed atop the blocks for the 100-meter individual medley at the International Swimming League Grand Final, the only question was: By how much? The answer turned out to be a whole bunch, as the Cali Condors superstar destroyed his world record in the event, an effort of 49.28 the new standard in the discipline.
Putting his versatility on display, Dressel obliterated the field and took down his week-old world record of 49.88, which he established in the semifinals. Dressel is the only man in history to eclipse the 50-second barrier in the event, and he is now almost a second clear of Vladimir Morozov, the No. 2 performer in history at 50.26. Given that this is a 100-meter event, the margin is downright ridiculous.
World Record Progression (Last 12 Records)
- 49.28, Caeleb Dressel, USA, 2020
- 49.88, Caeleb Dressel, USA, 2020
- 50.26, Vladimir Morozov, RUS, 2018
- 50.26, Vladimir Morozov, RUS, 2018
- 50.30, Vladimir Morozov, RUS, 2016
- 50.60, Vladimir Morozov, RUS, 2016
- 50.66, Markus Deibler, GER, 2014
- 50.71, Ryan Lochte, USA, 2012
- 50.76, Peter Mankoč, SLO, 2009
- 50.95, Sergey Fesikov, RUS, 2009
- 51.15, Ryan Lochte, USA, 2008
- 51.25, Ryan Lochte, USA, 2008
- 51.52, Ryk Neethling, RSA, 2006
“That IM was a really profound moment from this meet,” Dressel said afterward on the broadcast. “We knew we had a shot at taking the lead (for good), so that one meant a lot, being able to do that back-to-back meets. Everything in general, the energy this team brings, really wanting to be a part of it, I think everyone realizes that and you can see it every time we step up to race.”
What Dressel has done the past two weeks in the 100 individual medley is reminiscent of the gap between Great Britain’s Adam Peaty and his foes in the long-course version of the 100 breaststroke. Peaty is the only man in history to crack the 58-second and 57-second barriers in the event, a fact that leaves him more than a second clear of his competition. Dressel is accomplishing something similar in the 100 I.M., an event only held in short-course waters.
Dressel unsurprisingly bolted to the lead on the opening butterfly leg and continued to build his margin through the final three laps, the competition simply part of a coronation. Dressel earned Jackpot points over the third through eighth-place finishers, his Cali teammate Marcin Cieslak the only athlete whose points he did not steal. By sweeping the event’s 37 points, the Condors took a huge lead over Energy Standard.
Dressel has been a record-breaking machine during the ISL postseason. He has set four world records over the last two weeks, his pair in the 100 I.M. supported by world records in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. His 100 I.M. mark arrived less than 30 minutes after he set the American record in the 100 freestyle.