Flash! Caeleb Dressel Takes Down Second WR of Day With Standard in 50 Freestyle (VIDEO)

Photo Courtesy: Mike Lewis/ISL

Flash! Caeleb Dressel Takes Down Second WR of Day With Standard in 50 Freestyle

Furthering his identity as the world’s premier swimmer, Caeleb Dressel of the Cali Condors set his second world record of the opening day of the International Swimming League Grand Final when he covered the 50-meter freestyle in 20.16. Dressel took down his own world record, which stood at 20.24 from last year’s ISL Grand Final in Las Vegas. It was Dressel’s second world record of the day, complementing his earlier global standard in the 100 butterfly.

Dressel actually looked slightly disappointed at the conclusion of the race, suggesting he was seeking the first sub-20 performance in the history of the event. Nonetheless, it was the fastest effort of all-time and allowed Dressel to blow away the field, which included 2012 Olympic champion Florent Manaudou of Energy Standard. The Frenchman finished second to Dressel in 20.60, an eternity back for a 50-meter event. Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev of the L.A. Current was third in 20.75.

“I thought the first 25 was beautiful,” Dressel said after the session. “I didn’t hit that turn as well as I would have liked but that’s okay and in the second lap I thought I could have been a bit better. I’m spinning a little bit right there. But that’s okay. I’m still happy with the time. I can’t be upset when I go a personal best, so I was happy with it.”

Dressel is no stranger to barrier-breaking performances, as he became the first man to break the 18-second threshold in the 50-yard freestyle and 40-second barrier in the 100 freestyle at the 2018 NCAA Championships. The potential of the first sub-20 marker in the 50-meter freestyle was discussed throughout the week.

For Dressel, this latest record gave him three world marks over the last week, as he broke the world record in the 100 individual medley during the ISL semifinals. In that swim, Dressel became the first man to go under 50 seconds.

World Record Progression (Last 12 Records)

20.16, Caeleb Dressel, USA (2020)
20.24, Caeleb Dressel, USA (2019)
20.26, Florent Manaudou, FRA (2014)
20.30, Roland Schoeman, RSA (2009)
20.48, Amaury Leveaux, FRA (2008)
20.64, Roland Schoeman, RSA (2008)
20.81, Duje Draganja, CRO (2008)
20.93, Stefan Nystrand, SWE (2007)
20.98, Roland Schoeman, RSA (2006)
21.10, Fred Bousquet, FRA (2004)
21.13, Mark Foster, GBR (2001)
21.21, Anthony Ervin, USA (2000)

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