Watch Caeleb Dressel Go 46.96 in 100 Free at World Championships (RACE VIDEO)

Poetry in motion: Caeleb Dressel, nearest, and Kyle Chalmers, on the way to gold and silver in 46.96 and 47.08 - Photo Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer

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Caeleb Dressel has proved to be back to his elite form at the 2019 FINA World Championships. He has dominated in his events, nearly breaking a world record in the 100 free.

The world record survived but Dressel is the first in a textile suit to breatk 47 seconds, winning the world title in 46.96. Dressel held off Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers 46.96 to 47.08 in a blistering there-and-back-battle.

Feet on wall at 22.29, Caeleb Dressel reveled in a thunderous lead of precisely half a second on Chalmers, Brazil’s Marcelo Chierighini still in the fight on 22.58.

So, 46.96 American record ahead of 47.08. Thoughts, Caeleb Dressel?

“Its very exciting. I know I was just off the world record but really the goal was just to swim the best race that I could and if that was the time I got tonight I was happy with that.”

Cesar Cielo, 46.91; Alain Bernard, 46.94 – and now Caeleb Dressel as the swim pioneer who took the 100m pace below 47sec for the first time. In textile, Chalmers is now third best, behind the 47.04 of fellow Dolphin and Rio 2016 finalist Cameron McEvoy. All suits, Chalmers, who set his career best two efforts this season heading into world titles ranks fifth with his new high bar.

Battle Fuels Tokyo 2020 Rivalry, Says Chalmers

Chalmers, who in domestic racing this year laid down his best two career efforts – 47.35 and 47.48 – was delighted with his knock at history’s door but first paid plaudits to Caeleb Dressel:

“That was an exceptionally fast and special swim. I gave it my absolute all tonight. 47.0 is a very quick time. I couldn’t really believe it when I saw that and then to see Caeleb go 46.9, which is absolutely mind-blowing. It’s really positive for me leading into Tokyo next year.”

Asked if the thriller here at the Nambu pool would fuel the whole rivalry between the two, Chalmers said: “I think it does, we both swam pretty well tonight. We’ve had three good races over the Olympics, Pan Pacs and now Worlds.”

Gwangju 2019:

1	DRESSEL	Caeleb	USA	46.96
2	CHALMERS	Kyle	AUS	47.08
3	GRINEV	Vladislav	RUS	47.82
4	PIERONI	Blake	USA	47.88
5	CHIERIGHINI	Marcelo	BRA	47.93
6	NEMETH	Nandor	HUN	48.10
7	MIGNON	Clement	FRA	48.43
8	CORREIA	Breno	BRA	48.90

Complete results here.

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