This week on the SwimSwam Breakdown, we discussed Caeleb Dressel breaking his silence since leaving the world champs, US selection procedures, and the legitimacy of practice swims. See full list of topics below:
- 0:00 SwimSwam Breakdown Introduction
- 1:21 Caeleb Dressel Breaks Silence Since Leaving World Championships – What will we see from him now that he’s back to swimming?
- 12:00 What impressed you most at World Jr Championships?
- 17:34 What do you think of the USA Swimming SC World Champs selection process?
- 22:35 Thoughts on US National Team Selection Procedure change of rules to include Duel in the Pool
- 25:23 Should Off-events be swum at NCAA dual meets?
- 34:16 How will Queen Elizabeth II‘s passing affect the Commonwealth Games?
SINK or SWIM
- 42:11 Do you think the M200 Free will be the next 2009 World Record to be broken?
- 47:45 Will Chad le Clos make it back onto a major international LCM Podium after moving to Germany to train with Dirk Lange?
- 54:46 Was multiple men going 46s with fins and paddles in practice impressive?
- 58:00 Can the Cal men win the NCAA title without Hugo Gonzalez?
At 10:50, going to have to strongly disagree. I fully understand the funding of athletics comes from the entertainment side, but from the athletes perspective, they didn’t join the sport for the entertainment, they joined for the competition aspect of it.
The celebrity aspect if it is not something every athlete desires, they just want to compete.
Interesting Braden thinks the m200back WR will go before the m200free. Popovici is actually now closer to the Biedermann’s record than the textile best (Lochte 1:52.98) is to the 200back WR.
best breakdown show so far.
Chad is tricky, I think his best chance is the 200 fly with a slow first 100
Is he capable of that? that just doesn’t work for some people – going out slower just takes away their greatest asset
we have seen how it worked for him lately, he can maybe final, but can’t get to the podium. It’s the easiest to change
It’s obviously the best because of my chair spins at the start
And if it IS a mental health issue the drive usually is to step up and proclaim that for the benefit of all who might be in the same scenario.
Things don’t add up here.
If it is depression, CD must take care of himself first before he “steps up and proclaim that for the benefit of all who might be in the same scenario.” CD owes us nothing, and if you are looking to him to fulfill some faux obligation to the public to be the face of mental health, look elsewhere. There are plenty of other high profile athletes who admitted to suffering from various mental health issues so look to one of them and pretend they are CD.
In 2021 the US Olympic team coaches used CD as a workhorse, to CD’s detriment. Maybe part of the blame lies with the coaches and those who think that being tired and not… Read more »
And yet despite this, people are still claiming USA should have used Dressel in the 4×200 and it definitely would have won them a silver
I get Depression. I get mental health needs in general.
But I didn’t get Dressell quiting that meet in midstream.
I don’t get someone (his coach most likely) having an influential heart to heart leading his athlete to finishing the meet. Wasn’t he a team captain?
Only thing that seems plausible is an acute episode.
It could have been worse.
He could have been on the blocks getting ready to swim the fly leg on the medley relay, and then just walked away back to the ready room as the breaststroker was coming in.
Yes, my best guess is that he had an acute anxiety/panic attack. Probably a PTSD type flashback from his Olympic experience which was so stressful that he broke down crying after winning the 100 free. I think he even made some comment about being unreasonably stressed out before the 50 fly final. This is just brain chemistry gone awry, and is very common. Time heals.
USA Team Captain Lily King >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> team captain Caleb Dressel
USAS probably also want to ensure that prize money won at SC Worlds is directed towards LC Olympic prospects rather than SC specialists.
It should go to the fastest swimmers in that format. They shouldn’t be trying to funnel it to anyone.
Dressel has basically not had a substantial, lengthy break since 2015, and that was his choice, but I get the feeling that 2021 was *supposed* to be his time to take a long break from the sport, and that didn’t get to happen. Then after grinding for a five-year Olympic cycle and coming out with five golds (three individual, only done in the past 30 years by Phelps), since he was the poster boy of ISL and his team depended on him, he felt obligated to do that, and then start training for Worlds in 2022, and it all became too much. I think he was encouraged by his swims at World Trials and so he went to Worlds ready… Read more »
But when Australian superstars like Titmus and McKeon chose to sit out events or ration events, people here said they were running away from competition, living in fear, letting everyone down, had skewed priorities etc etc…. they cant win!
You’re right that nobody can win when it comes to SwimSwam commenters. I don’t blame him for not saying anything!
Dressel participated at the 2022 FINA World Aquatics Championships and walked away with two gold medals (M 50 FL, M 4 X 100 FR-R). McKeon and Titmus did not even bother to show up to the 2022 FINA World Aquatics Championships.
You can’t honestly believe that this makes sense or is a relevant point to make. Like… come on.
This is exactly it. Titmus and McKeon were trashed for being honest about taking a break this year, but when Dressel quits midway through a meet we need to admire him?