2019 ATLANTA CLASSIC
- May 17th-19th, 2019
- Georgia Tech McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, Georgia
- LCM (50m pool)
- Meet Information
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
In a Saturday evening full of electric swims, from both Bloomington and Atlanta, one particular race seems to have caught more attention than most: the 1:56.29 in the 200 fly swum by Olympian Caeleb Dressel at the Atlanta Classic.
In a vacuum, the swim was certainly not the most impressive of the evening – not even of the evening at this meet. Olivia Smoliga’s 50 free/100 back double, and Hali Flickinger’s 3rd-in-the-world 200 fly, both probably rank ahead of this 200 fly.
But swimming does not exist in a vacuum, and what caught so much attention in this race is 1) the enticement of how much faster Dressel could be with more experience in the race (he split 28.8 to finish the race, in what appears to be just his 5th time ever swimming it); and 2) the fact that a swimmer who has a best time of 21.1 in the 50 free can also go 1:56 in the 200 fly at an in-season meet is an unheard of breadth of ability from a swimmer: almost Phelpsian.
Thanks to Scott Pittenger, we can now all enjoy video of this swim.
Final Results:
- Caeleb Dressel, GSC, 1:56.29
- Chase Kalisz, ABSC, 1:56.55
- Fynn Minuth, UN, 1:57.70
As you see the 3 leaders separate from the pack, Dressel is the swimmer closest to the camera who breaks out to an early lead at the 50; Fynn Minuth is directly above him on the screen; and Chase Kalisz is at the far side of the pool, in the 3rd-lane from the top.
Since its the same pool:
Had they swam these times at the 1996 Olympic final Dressel and Kalisz would have placed 1st and 3rd.
Nice stat!
Not surprised Caeleb can close in 28.8. I AM SURPRISED he can split 30-31 on the middle 50s while expending almost no energy. That easy speed tempo butterfly is something most sprinters (actually, almost all swimmers) struggle with.
Also impressed he breathed every 2 strokes for the whole race. The trend since Phelps has been breathing every stroke, but Phelps has unique flexibility to breathe without lifting his torso high. For many swimmers, breathing every stroke may not actually be worth it. More oxygen intake, but more oxygen expended.
Bob Bowman says that breathing every other stroke expends more energy than breathing every stroke that is why MP breathes every stroke except when he breaks out of the start and turns. I don’t know if Bob has any scientific data on that it is what he said.
I think he was saying that it works for Michael to breath every stroke, not that it would be the case for every swimmer
No Bob was not talking about what works for MP.
Yea he is also a whole different animals so
Most impressive part of that was breathing every other stroke for the entire 200 (minus the last 10meters). Does anyone else in the Top 15 in the world swim it that way?
I did a little research (on my phone – take for what it is).
In 2000 Sydney finals, 3 swimmers breathed every stroke – 2 were side breathers, 1 was Michael Phelps.
In 2016 Rio finals, 5 swimmers breathed every stroke – no side breathers.
Does anyone know if Phelps ever swam sub 29 last 50? From the Omega timing site, Phelps was 29.5 in 2009 Rome, 29.2 in 2007 Melbourne, 29.9 in 2015 at Nationals. Not sure what Le Clos/Phelps did in London 2012, but I don’t think they were sub 29. It’s quite possible this 28.8 by Dressel was one of the the fastest, maybe the fastest last 50s ever 200lc fly.
In 2001 MP was six seconds faster at the 150 and last 50 was 29.5
interesting, thank you for the stat
It was posted yesterday that Phelps brought a 1:52 200 home in 28.2, but I didn’t fact check. Would give a starting place to look though.
Thanks- I doubled checked his 1:52.09 WR from 2007. He was 1:22.87 at the 150. Maybe Laszlo Cseh or Le Clos have had sub 29? I’ll post here if I find anything.
I think Phelps split 28.0 at the end of the 200 breast in Rio 😉
I think you are right!
How can anyone not think what Dressel is doing is impressive? All these comments about overhyped Dressel fans are absurd the dude is wicked fast in almost everything
Only naive Dressel fans will think he will win 8 Golds! Come on! If he can win 2 individual golds is already very good. Don’t assume he is wonder kid who can win all events. It is annoying to see Dressel fans so hyped up..
Who said Dressel will win 8 golds? But the in-season performances he has swum in this season are great (PBs in the 200 free, 100 breastroke, 1.56.2 in the 200 fly and we’ll see tonight in the 200 Im). Sad times, these ones, in which it’s so difficult explaining an argument without being extreme on one hand or the other.
I mean many fans of him said he will win 8 golds in Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Let’s play devils advocate. I’m gonna say he makes at least. 4 free and 4 medley relays. So that’s 2 he’s gonna have a tough time in the 50 with proud but I’m gonna say he wins. Same in the 100 if chalmers and Morozov hit tapers right. So let’s just say he wins the 50 so that’s 3 1 fly no one has looked really incredible. So I’m gonna say Caeleb will taper well and that’s 4. So I’m gonna say at least 4 barring anything. Not too bad. The non 1 free gold is just to make a point if he wins it that’s 5. My opinion though. And that’s just from a statistical standpoint
predictions are only predictions ….nothing else for now . Let people dream ……they need it
Maybe he should stick to his best events. The time he swam wouldn’t even make the 2016 olympic finals.
Were there any times in this event faster but NOT swim in the 2fly finals at 2016 Trials? Point being, this was an early-season meet with nothing on the line except pride.
But this was only a Greg day rest and he is cranking and I think if he is tapered and shaved, he would definitely be 1:54
What’s with all the downvotes?
Ol longhorn has about 15 profiles, just for this purpose…
lol
People are overreacting to this swim. Dressel is obviously an all time great talent so swims like this shouldn’t be surprising.
From my perspective, people like to see fast swimming, so even when one of the greats puts up a fast time, we enjoy discussing it
Switching gears like that at the end of a 2 Fly is something that many who specialise in the event cannot do. Not to mention the oxygen debt most swimmers – even elite ones – would have after 150m breathing every other stroke and three 10m+ breakouts. It suggests a level of fitness that should terrify his competitors this summer.