Video interview captured by swimswam reporter Colin Blair.
Men’s 100 freestyle – 2013 FINA Junior World Championships / Dressel 17-18 NAG Record – as reported by swimswam:
In less than a month as a 17-18, American Caeleb Dressel has cracked his second National Age Group Record already, this time with a 48.97 to win the 100 long course meter free at the FINA Junior World Championships. That swim, which was also a Meet Record, put him ahead of 50 free champ Luke Percy of Australia, who was also extremely fast in 49.06.
That broke the 49.05 that the one, the only, Michael Phelps swam in 2004.
Dressel went out very fast, turning in 23.03, and had just enough to hang on at the end from Percy for his first title of this meet.
After two of his 200 IM records went down at Junior Nationals, and now this 100 free mark, Phelps is down to 13 National Age Group Records in total: 9 in long course, plus four in short course. Phelps’ 17-18 200 free record is surely not out of reach for Dressel, who already holds the 15-16 record, but at 1:45.99, that one will probably take a hair longer to hit, if he gets there.
It is exciting that Caeleb and his coach are considering branching into multiple disciplines and distances and refusing to be pigeon holed.
If Caeleb, Jason and the Bolles team are considering it, I’m sure there’s good reason, and not a decision made lightly, now would be the time to find out his full potential.
Looking at his technique and his mental attitude I definitely see the sub 1:46 before end 2014.
@bourdais talking about exceptional talent, don’t forget Caleb is the fastest 50,100 ,200 15-16 yr old ever in the USA and 50,100 17-18yr old, there is always going to be someone who breaks the mold and pushes the boundaries of what we think is possible, could very… Read more »
Dropping from 1:48.64 to <1:45.99 is a tall order, even for someone as talented as Dressel with a two year time span, primarily because he is already an exceptional sprinter. Many swimmers can excel at two Olympic distances, but in an era of specialists it takes an absolutely exceptional talent (we're talking Thorpe, Van Den Hoogenband, Sun Yang, and to a lesser extent Hackett and Klim) to excel at three. The 50 and 200 are very, very different races, he will probably have to choose between them or risk failing at both.
100% agree with you.