2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Competition Schedule
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Entry Lists
- Start Lists
- Results
The USA’s Caeleb Dressel kicked off his first finals session of the 2019 FINA World Championships with a bang. Dressel stepped up for the 50 fly semifinals, clocking in at 22.57 to break the American Record and Championship Record. That broke Dressel’s former American Record of 22.76 from the 2017 World Championships. The former Championship Record was a 22.67 set by Milorad Cavic in 2009.
Dressel is now the 4th fastest performer in history and leads the way into the final, where he will face off with World Record holder Andrii Govorov of the Ukraine. The defending champion, Great Britain’s Ben Proud, and Brazilian 2-time silver medalist Nicholas Santos will be in the mix. Dressel’s compatriot Michael Andrew will also join him in the final. Andrew was just 2 hundredths shy of his best time and remains the 3rd fastest American ever.
Dressel’s performance was the 9th fastest in history. The 50 fly is the only event Dressel swum in 2017 in which he did not earn a medal.
ALL-TIME TOP 10 PERFORMERS: MEN’S 50 FLY
| 1 | Andrii Govorov | 22.27 |
| 2 | Rafael Munoz | 22.43 |
| 3 | Nicholas Santos | 22.51 |
| 4 | Caeleb Dressel | 22.57 |
| 5 | Milorad Cavic | 22.67 |
| 6 | Henrique Martins | 22.70 |
| 7 | Matt Targett | 22.73 |
| 8 | Oleg Kostin | 22.74 |
| 9 | Ben Proud | 22.75 |
| 10 | Cesar Cielo | 22.76 |
ALL-TIME TOP 10 PERFORMANCES: MEN’S 50 FLY
| 1 | Andrii Govorov | 22.27 |
| 2 | Rafael Munoz | 22.43 |
| 3 | Rafael Munoz | 22.45 |
| 4 | Rafael Munoz | 22.48 |
| 5 | Andrii Govorov | 22.48 |
| 6 | Rafael Munoz | 22.49 |
| 7 | Nicholas Santos | 22.51 |
| 8 | Andrii Govorov | 22.53 |
| 9 | Caeleb Dressel | 22.57 |
| 10 | Nicholas Santos | 22.60 |
I remember James Magnussen went a 48.0 in the 2012 4×100 free final and everybody was worried about him, but then he dropped a 47.5 later in that same meet. It’s kind of crazy that 47.6 is concerning, but even so, Dressel has ample time within the meet to recollect himself.
So how do you all feel about Dressel right now. It’s a bit worrisome to see a sub par (if we’re going of his Budapest standards here) outing in the 100 free right after a good 50 like this.
The options are
A) It was just a bad race everyone calm down he’s find
B) The days of Dressel doing doubles and triples, at least dominating everyone might be over, which wouldn’t be good for his 50 free…
C) Dressel is just morphing into a butterfly God who can do also do some damn good freestyle but we might’ve seen his freestyle peak already…
I’m leaning towards A
C for my opinion
I’m leaning toward B. He’s getting a bit older, and looks stronger. His recovery rate in 2017 was Phelpsian, but I doubt his ability to repeat that with age. I think he should limit his event schedule to 4×100 free relay, 4×100 medley relay, 4×100 mixed medley relay, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 free. I think that the 50 fly and the 4×100 mixes free relay should be given up.
I agree that’s a monster schedule; but in this cas “age” is that he’s 23…
I think bad swim until he has another. He clearly has his speed as evidenced by a smooth 22.5 fly. He was out in 22.7 in free. His fly was as fast as his free. Had an hour of rest. I way that fly took anything out of him. I think he just misjudged his pace on the first half.
I’m going with D which is – a combination of A and the fact that Dressel often doesn’t have killer relay performances (Yes, I know he has been fast on relays before, but he’s also been a lot slower than one would expect a lot).
Honestly though, at this point, who knows what to expect?
A it is. Outstanding fly and a history of sometimes delivering unimpressive relay results indicate all is well and that the 100 fly and free should be awesome. Keep in mind the exellent 200 fly and free that were done basically untapered. The fellow is super fit and is ready to go,
Still a fast swim. First day of the meet. The 100 free can be a tricky event.
Yeah, he’s fine. 47.6 isn’t great considering he was 47.9 a few weeks ago, but it’s still just half a second off his best, which could be any number of little things. I’m gonna just assume it was an off swim and he’ll shake the cobwebs off as the week rolls on.
C it is
Both free and fly records (50’s and 100’s) are on watch after the PB by 0.19. Especially given that Dressel probably only went 90%
No way he beats Govorov‘s WR in the 50 fly, his 100 free in the relay wasn‘t that impressive for him either.
No, didn’t look explosive at all. Very strange. We will see if that was just a bad swim or something more significant.
WR watch.
It’s ya boy
Ol’ Longhorn be shaking in his boots
Why’d you do Dressel like that on the free relay? Seriously, good to see him finally crack the top 10 all-time.
Apparently he got on his motorcycle again between the 50 fly and the free relay.
I knew u were going to comment this.
That’s what SwimSwam pays me for. It drives up comments.
Yeah, not sure what to make of that 100 free, but after that 50 fly, that 100 fly is looking like a 49.6 or 49.7.
I hope so, though he was 47.9 at his taper/no shave meet a month ago when he went 50point
His fly seems to be progressing very well compared to his free. although I wouldn’t call 47.6 a “bad” swim, just not what we would expect given how his fly looked
I think the volume of sprint free compared to fly (he swam breast on relays) in college helped his sprint free to peak in 2017 but a lot of room for improvement in his fly now that he’s been pro. Tough balance. Biondi had ups and downs having both in peak form too.
Wait, was he in a brief for the relay? Didn’t watch it.