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WATCH: Caeleb Dressel & Chase Kalisz Swim 1:56s in the 200 Fly

2019 ATLANTA CLASSIC

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:

  1. Caeleb Dressel, GSC, 1:56.29
  2. Chase Kalisz, ABSC, 1:56.55
  3. 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.

 

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Drewbrewsbeer
5 years ago

Since its the same pool:
Had they swam these times at the 1996 Olympic final Dressel and Kalisz would have placed 1st and 3rd.

Tea rex
5 years ago

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.

anonymous
Reply to  Tea rex
5 years ago

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.

Dudeman
Reply to  anonymous
5 years ago

I think he was saying that it works for Michael to breath every stroke, not that it would be the case for every swimmer

Anonymous
Reply to  Dudeman
5 years ago

No Bob was not talking about what works for MP.

Raisins
Reply to  Anonymous
5 years ago

Yea he is also a whole different animals so

DrSwimPhil
5 years ago

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?

Tea rex
Reply to  DrSwimPhil
5 years ago

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.

phelps swims 200 breast rio
5 years ago

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.

anonymous
Reply to  phelps swims 200 breast rio
5 years ago

In 2001 MP was six seconds faster at the 150 and last 50 was 29.5

phelps swims 200 breast rio
Reply to  anonymous
5 years ago

interesting, thank you for the stat

Blackflag82
Reply to  phelps swims 200 breast rio
5 years ago

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.

phelps swims 200 breast rio
Reply to  Blackflag82
5 years ago

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.

Tea rex
Reply to  phelps swims 200 breast rio
5 years ago

I think Phelps split 28.0 at the end of the 200 breast in Rio 😉

phelps swims 200 breast rio
Reply to  Tea rex
5 years ago

I think you are right!

Numbers Talk
5 years ago

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

Selzo
5 years ago

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..

nuotofan
Reply to  Selzo
5 years ago

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.

Selzo
Reply to  nuotofan
5 years ago

I mean many fans of him said he will win 8 golds in Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Jimbo
Reply to  Selzo
5 years ago

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

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Selzo
5 years ago

predictions are only predictions ….nothing else for now . Let people dream ……they need it

Random Swimmer/ Swim Fan
Reply to  Selzo
5 years ago

Maybe he should stick to his best events. The time he swam wouldn’t even make the 2016 olympic finals.

BaldingEagle
Reply to  Random Swimmer/ Swim Fan
5 years ago

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.

Thomas
Reply to  Random Swimmer/ Swim Fan
5 years ago

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

How much can CD bench?
5 years ago

What’s with all the downvotes?

TINY HANDS
Reply to  How much can CD bench?
5 years ago

Ol longhorn has about 15 profiles, just for this purpose…

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  TINY HANDS
5 years ago

lol

Samuel Huntington
Reply to  How much can CD bench?
5 years ago

People are overreacting to this swim. Dressel is obviously an all time great talent so swims like this shouldn’t be surprising.

The Ready Room
Reply to  Samuel Huntington
5 years ago

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

Daaaave
5 years ago

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.

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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