Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel was back in the pool racing for the first time since the 2023 U.S. World Championship Trials. At the Florida-Virginia dual meet Caeleb negative split a 1:34.9 200 yard freestyle, and he clocked a 45.9 100 yard butterfly.
In this interview Caeleb provides more context to his performances back in June at U.S. World Trials, noting that he simply didn’t have the power needed — the muscle needed— to race like he had in 2020-2021. That fact was threadbare in the 50 freestyle. Caeleb said he raced at 195 to 200 pounds in peak condition. Back in June he was 184 pounds. On that long, 8-month, mental break, Caeleb lost muscle mass, something he’s working to regain on the run-up to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Caeleb talked in depth with SwimSwam about his 8-month break from training, detailing that it was a true break from the pool and the weight room. See that interview here.
This is Caeleb’s third run-up to U.S. Olympic Trials. His feels his training is on-point and he wouldn’t change a thing.
It’s way too early to make predictions. While Dressel’s October exhibition yards races were impressive, racing yards does not reflect Olympic pool prowess. Dressel should get some meters racing in before the end-of-year holiday. Stay tuned.
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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.
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Already after Worlds trials Nesty said that Dressel had lost a lot of muscle mass and that explained his subpar performances; now we have details. Every swimmer is different (Popovici and Dressel, for instance, are completely different) and swimming is fascinating because different swimmers may have similar performances using their different skills ( physically, technically, as commitment and training, as feeling of water, as capability of giving more when most counts and so on). Dressel is an amazing athlete but has also worked a lot to become the best sprinter in the Worlds. It will be interesting seeing his times after his return to full training: I think he’ll be very near his PBs in the 50 free and 100… Read more »
World record in the 100 free is Popovici, a guy who, on his best day, has half the muscle mass Dressel does. Maybe muscle mass doesn’t mean as much as we previously thought?
Maybe Popovici would be a lot faster with some added muscle.
One of the reasons why Dressel is so good is his power and strength. The start is 100% power which is how fast you can move weight.
start is the only part of the race where muscle mass is more important
More important than what is the question? Popovici is taller and has longer arms than CD, so if that’s the difference nothing he can do there. Popovici seems to have amazing feel for the water, CD obviously works on that but might not be able to replicate that. Popovici seems to have better endurance/backhalf speed, CD obviously works on that but that’s never been his calling card. Sometimes you just have to lean into your strengths and for CD that power and strength. That helps him pull water faster and gives him extra juice kicking/UW
Popovici is an endurance guy, Dressel relies on explosiveness
Anthony Ervin is another great example – just about exactly the same height and weight as Popovici.
I dont know what’s above morbidly obese, but if I gained another 15 lbs, I would be there
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-4_GaKXgk4E
It’s super morbidly obese
Dressel swimming any more meets this year? US Open?
Dressel will be just fine in Paris.
For you, does ‘just fine’ mean 47.0/49.5? Or does ‘just fine’ mean 47.6/50.3?
If he’s serious he needs to race more before Trials. Otherwise it’s going to be a blood bath with the media and social media when a mediocre showing happens at trials. Period. Reality.
I don’t see that happening
First one
I’ve read some comments but none pointing out the comparison with Phelps after Beijing08: Phelps didn’t train for at least 7 months (since mid August 08 to mid March09) and gained a lot of kilograms (something that Dressel didn’t have to face when he returned to train), so was really out of shape. Moreover, when appeared the “famous photo” at beginning of February he had a very harsh time considering even to finish his career. But after just two months of training Phelps had a great meeting at Charlotte (mid May), and then at the beginning of July successfull trials for Worlds where he was nominated best male athlete (two WRs in the 100 and 200 fly, Pellegrini best female… Read more »
Dressel should be back to form, but when you’re talking a level of speed and perfection close to WR pace anything can happen. Maybe he’s only a 47 low to mid or 49high to 50 low and that’s still strong but it is not at his peak level.
Phelps is more of an athletic freak than Dressel
Athletic freak – no, Dressel is more athletic by a mile. Phelps obviously has better natural feel for swimming though.
Nah. Phelps’ capacity to clear lactic acid is borderline superhuman. Dressel has no physical trait that’s close to as much of an outlier.
Really? Dressel routinely blows the best sprinters in the world away off the start and you think he has no outlier physical traits?
How do you determine that
I’d like to see you beat him
Dressel is far more of an athletic freak then Phelps.
Phelps is longer and probably more agile. Dressel is significantly more explosive.
Dressel is definitely very explosive.
Caeleb Dressel registered vertical leap of 43 inches, comparable to Le Bron James’ 44 inches.
That this article/video was posted on a TUE-sday was too good to be true, and too hard not to point it out.
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I see what you did there
Phelps was coming back for 2 fly/free/IM requires a lot more time and training than CD needs for a 50/100 free 100 fly.
Gaining 1-2 lbs of muscle/month is realistic for someone down 15 lbs.
Pop some creatine and lift heavy
Muscle memory is factor that can’t be ignored as well