After Caeleb Dressel‘s blistering 18.23 50 yard free U.S. Open and American Record at the 2016 SEC Championships, you have to ask yourself, Can he dip under 18 seconds?
University of Florida Head Coach Gregg Troy shaved his moustache, or rather Caeleb shaved it for him. See the video here. Why? See below, as reported by Braden Keith:
“Prior to the season, University of Florida head coach, and 2012 U.S. Olympic coach, Gregg Troy made the assertion that if Caeleb Dressel were to swim an 18.39 in the 50 free, which would be the fastest time ever, that the coach’s famous mustache would be gone. Dressel not only hit the 18.39 exactly in prelims of the 50 free at last week’s SEC Championship meet, he came back in finals to go even faster: an 18.23.”
Coach Troy owned up. Would you grow a Stache in honor of Dressel — a Dressel Stache — if he dipped under 18 seconds in the 50 yard freestyle? I mean, it’s way out there, but Dressel could do it. I think, like one commenter suggested, a Dash of Stache is the very least we can offer a man that fast. Sure, his chances are slim, but why not put your upper lip on the line?
This proposal is by no means formal. It’s just for fun, and we’d like to do it as a test to see who will play. If it works, we will expand out this challenge for the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. On that note, I’m in. And if Dressel goes 20.89 in the 50 meter free this summer, I’ll grow a Dressel Stache or shave my head in honor of his raw speed.
NOTE: I do say in the video above, I would not be surprised if Dressel swam slower at NCAAs, focusing his energy on wins and team points, but I’d love to see him improve on that 18.2. I’m going to predict an 18.29 for the win in Atlanta.
What do you think he’ll go at Men’s NCAA DI Champs in the 50 yard freestyle?
You can follow Dressel on Twitter here.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Caeleb’s gonna take gold in the 50 and breast at NCAA’s. What other guys have pulled off that double?
Does anyone have a video/link to Dressels 100 fly at SECs this year?
check some posts on top of the page – have fun
21.30
47.96 – 22.66/25.30
Re: Caeleb being unshaved: watching the Florida video of Caeleb shaving Gregg Troy’s mustache proves that to be false. There isn’t even a glint of peach fuzz on his arms. The guy was fully shaved.
It doesn’t make his 18.2 any less impressive, mind you. I just want to make it known to some of our more trusting readers that not everything a swimmer or coach says in an interview is necessarily true, as some commenters seemed to buy it.
You can’t see my arm hair and I haven’t shaved in 6 months
That’s a fair point. We all have arm hair (mine is blonde as well), whether it’s thick or thin, blonde or dark. The video Florida posted is decent quality and lighting, and even peach fuzz will reflect some light. There is nothing like that on Caeleb.
When asked if Caeleb was shaved, Gregg Troy said “you’d have to ask Caeleb about that.” If Caeleb wasn’t shaved, why wouldn’t he just give us a simple “no”? Why complicate things so unnecessarily? Yes, there are a lot of guys at different spots in NCAA qualification and it’s a lot to keep track of, but let’s not pretend Gregg Troy hasn’t talked to Caeleb, or that you wouldn’t know what your star swimmer… Read more »
Or commentators who see arms in a video and conclude “the guy was fully shaved.”
I guess his legs could be unshaved, that’s true. Still, when asked if he was shaved, he just gave a flat “no.” He could have just as easily said “well, I just did a partial shave,” or anything along those lines. Also, I’ve seen partial shaves where swimmers do legs and body while leaving the arms alone, but never the reverse, although that’s totally subject to my own personal experience so I’m certainly not expecting anyone to take that as conclusive proof. I still say he was fully shaved.
fair point, but some people dont grow alot of arm hair, and since he looks to be blonde, couple that with chlorine etc, his arm hairs could be clear. haha if he says he didnt shave i believe him. and even if his arms are shaved its the legs that make a huge difference usually cause they are hairier.
Keep in mind guys that he didn’t just say it in a dark room with nobody but him and Gregg Troy there. He said it in front of our reporter Coleman Hodges, who was standing in front of him and could see the hair.
can we hear Coleman Hodges’s final word on this topic?
I don’t know how hairy a guy at 19 would be and did not spend much time on the video. now curious minds want to know since so many commented on this and maybe another article as well.
Thanks!
He’s presumably back in heavy training. He won’t go 21.4. But he should improve his 100 free pb
21.75 in the 50. 3rd to Adrian and Cielo
48.55 in the 100. 2nd to Adrian.
I agree with Mel, I think he goes slower at NCAAs. For me the more interesting question is can he win 3 individual events? He is a given to win the 50, a favorite in the 100, and a serious contender in the 100 fly. With Schooling and Conger, that event will be tough. I think he gets third to those two with Schooling edging out Conger again.
But for a moment just marvel at Dressel’s fly turns, I have never seen a swimmer get off the wall that fast. He makes everyone else look like they’re resting at the wall, even Arthur Mendes, and that dude’s really good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y4I0QdCq-8
Don’t forget he was 51.0 breast on the 400MR. Given the challenge of Schooling/Conger … and that fact that he’s already prepping for breast in the relays … he might have a better shot of winning the 100 breast!
Did he not breathe the last 25?
Can’t see him (or anyone) beating schooling in the 100 fly.. I think schooling is going 44.2 or 44.3 (he was 44.51 last year)
But I hope dressel swims it to have all those guys face each other
Orlando predictions for dressel:
50 free: 21.46
100 free: 48.31 22.89 25.42
Oooo, I wasn’t going there, but I’d like to see that this weekend!
he sure will make a statement on LC 100 free soon this year – hopefully in orlando .
I’m feeling a 21.7 in Orlando for Dressel. Think he picks up the W.