You are working on Staging1

Caeleb Dressel Breaks Phelps’ Elusive 100 Butterfly World Record in 49.50

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Swimming in the semifinals of the men’s 100 butterfly Friday evening in Gwangju, South Korea, at the 2019 FINA World Championships, American sprint star Caeleb Dressel broke his first individual long course World Record in the 100 butterfly, with a time of 49.50. With this performance, Dressels shaves 0.32 from the previous mark set by Michael Phelps at the 2009 World Championships.

Dressel did not quite bring it home as fast as Phelps did in Rome 2009, splitting a 26.67 to Phelps’ 26.46, but Dressel took the race out a full half-second faster than Phelps. Dressel was out fully half-a-second faster than he was in the finals of the 100 fly in Budapest as well.

Fastest 100 Butterfly Splits:

Dressel – 2017 Finals Dressel – 2019 Prelims Dressel – 2019 Semifinals Phelps – 2009 Finals
1st 50 23.31 23.44 22.83 23.36
2nd 50 26.55 26.84 26.67 26.46
TOTAL TIME 49.86 50.28 49.50* WORLD RECORD 49.82

Dressel split a 49.33 on the butterfly leg of the 400 mixed medley relay, and with one swim yet to go, Dressel will likely venture into 49-low territory in the 100 fly.

200 butterfly champion Kristof Milak qualifies 2nd for tomorrow’s final with a 50.95, slightly over his person best time.

TOP 10 PERFORMERS ALL-TIME, MEN’s 100 FLY:

  1. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.50
  2. Michael Phelps (USA), 49.82
  3. Milorad Cavic (SRB), 49.95
  4. Joseph Schooling (SGP), 50.39
  5. Ian Crocker (USA), 50.40
  6. Rafael Munoz (ESP), 40.41
  7. Chad le Clos (RSA), 50.56
  8. Kristof Milak (HUN), 50.62
  9. Piero Codia (ITA), 50.64
  10. Ablert Subirats (VEN), 50.65

TOP 10 ALL-TIME PERFORMANCES, MEN’S 100 FLY:

  1. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.50 — 2019
  2. Michael Phelps (USA), 49.82 – 2009
  3. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.86 – 2017
  4. Milorad Cavic (SRB), 49.95 – 2009
  5. Milorad Cavic (SRB), 50.01 – 2009
  6. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 50.07 – 2017
  7. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 50.08 – 2017
  8. Michael Phelps (USA), 50.22 – 2009
  9. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 50.28 – 2019
  10. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 50.36 – 2019

Dressel’s performance tonight bumps 2016 Olympic champion Joseph Schooling‘s gold medal winning performance from the 10 swims all time. In Rio, Schooling posted a 50.39 to win the gold medal. Here in Gwangju, Schooling failed to advance to the semifinals of the men’s 100 fly, finishing 24th.

In This Story

75
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

75 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ol’ Golden Bear
5 years ago

This World’s has proved to me that any record can be broken in the next 5 years outside of the women’s 200 fly.

Joel Lin
5 years ago

Call me sentimental but I am rooting for a 49.36 to precisely match the 100 free WR Rowdy Gaines swam at Jamail in Austin, 1981.

Small bird
5 years ago

The schooling jokes are so old. He’s just normal person! And now these jokes are hurtful. Just let it be

TINY HANDS
Reply to  Small bird
5 years ago

I mean, one one hand I completely agree with you. He’s young and having fun and probably doesn’t much care about swimming fast as long as the money keeps rolling in. At the same time, who doesn’t like to see the overconfident (read: cocky) fall?

PsychoDad
5 years ago

Loved his reaction. Not a biggie. I could have done better. Meh.

mcmflyguy
5 years ago

called this one a while back! i said 49.5 would be what he goes. YES! this young man is so amazing to watch

sven
Reply to  mcmflyguy
5 years ago

It was only the semi-final, so don’t pat yourself on the back just yet. He tends to go even faster in finals.

mcmflyguy
Reply to  sven
5 years ago

did he… or did he not go a 49.5. if he did then i called it. if he didn’t then i’m wrong.

WillSwim
5 years ago

So with new records in the 100 and 200 fly it might be too bullish to expect Urlando to own them both after Tokyo 2020. I think a more reasonable expectation would be for him to claim them at world championships 2021. 😂

(This is how irrational fanboy crazy talk is done. Take notes, Ol’ Longhorn)

Determinator
5 years ago

hE NEeDs a mIzUnO tO gO fAsT

anonymoose
Reply to  Determinator
5 years ago

he would have been a 41 in a mizuno!!!!111!

Philip
Reply to  anonymoose
5 years ago

I noticed less swimmers wearing the Mizuno. Milak wore it 2 years ago as well and not wearing it now.

Woke Stasi
5 years ago

Under 49.3 in the final?

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »