This week’s ZUMO Performance of the Week goes to Caeleb Dressel of the Cali Condors and the United States for his world record in the 50 freestyle at the International Swimming League final in Las Vegas. Dressel swam a 20.24 in the 50 freestyle to lower the world record of 20.26 set by Florent Manaudou in December 2014 as the Condor took down Manaudou in the head-to-head race as the now former world record holder was second at 20.69 ahead of Kyle Chalmers (20.74).
“I didn’t even know what the world record was – it wasn’t on my mind at all,” Dressel said. “Maybe it does fall into the idea we were talking about. Sometimes you do get so caught up in the time and it’s not about going someone else’s time. It’s about going what I am capable of doing. So at that moment I was capable of going 20.24.
“What if I was so caught up on what Flo was going. But I wasn’t thinking times and I had no idea of what the record was but I think that was what stopped me in 2017 in the fly. I was so caught up in Michael’s time rather than what I am capable of going and that’s really my mindset nowadays.”
Caeleb Dressel is also the first American to hold the world record in the 50 SCM freestyle since Anthony Ervin had the WR of 21.21 set in March 2000 which stood for ten months.
Dressel was named the match MVP of the Las Vegas final as he won the 100 fly, 100 free, 50 fly, 50 free and 50 Skins.
Dressel broke his first world record in short course meters as he currently holds the world record in the 100 butterfly in long course that he set this summer. He also holds a couple all-time textile bests in the 50 and 100 free as he continues to chase those records ahead of 2020. He broke through for his first SCM world record in Las Vegas and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Congrats to Caeleb Dressel on winning the ZUMO Performance of the Week!
All-Time Rankings Men’s 50 Free (SCM)
- 20.24, Caeleb Dressel, USA (2019)
- 20.26, Florent Manaudou, FRA (2014)
- 20.30, Roland Schoeman, RSA (2009)
- 20.31, Vladimir Morozov, RUS (2018)
- 20.48, Amaury Leveaux, FRA (2008)
- 20.51, Cesar Cielo, BRA (2010)
- 20.52, Fred Bousquet, FRA (2009)
- 20.63, Alain Bernard, FRA (2008)
- 20.66, Ben Proud, GBR (2017)
- 20.70, Stefan Nystrand, SWE (2009)
Previous ZUMO Performances of the Week
