2024 U.S. Olympic Trials: Dressel to Defend 50 Gold in Paris, Qualifies in 1st Individual Race

By Mark Wild on SwimSwam

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

June 15-23, 2024
Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
LCM (50 Meters)
Session Start Times (ET):

11 a.m. Prelims
7:45 p.m. Finals (varying based on broadcast needs)

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Prelims Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7
Finals Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7

It’s been a long and winding road for Caeleb Dressel as he officially has now officially made his comeback to the world Stage. On Friday night, in front of a raucous crowd in Indianapolis, Dressel, the seven-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion in the 50 free, officially added his first individual event for the Paris Games.

Dressel, earlier in the week, placed 3rd in the 100 free, behind new Olympians Chris Guiliano and Jack Alexy, both of whom made history this week. Guiliano became the first US man to make the Olympic team across the 50,100, and 200 freestyle, while Jack Alexy lowered the course record, becoming the fastest man in the 100 free at a U.S. Olympic Trials.

In the 50 free, an event in which Dressel is the American record holder and owner of the textile World Record (non-super suited) at 21.04, Dressel steadily improved from round to round.

Seed
Prelims
Semis
Final

Place
5th
7th
2nd
1st

Time
21.84
22.00
21.61
21.41

Dressel was at the zenith of American swimming and was the favorite in all of his events at the 2022 Budapest Worlds, but withdrew under mysterious situations. Dressel returned nine months later, and while he competed at the 2023 Summer Nationals, he failed to make the team, finishing 3rd in the 50 fly.

With his win tonight, it’ll be the first time in over 24 months that Dressel will represent the United States at an international meet. His time tonight of 21.41 vaults him until 4th in the World rankings behind Cameron McEvoy‘s 21.13 and is his fastest since April of 2022 and ranks 7th amongst his fastest events.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE — FINAL

World Record: 20.91 — Cesar Cielo (BRA), 2009
American Record: 21.04 — Caeleb Dressel, 2019 / 2021
U.S. Open Record: 21.04 — Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2021
World Junior Record: 21.75 — Michael Andrew (USA), 2017 / 2017
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Caeleb Dressel, 21.04
2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 21.96

Final: 

Caeleb Dressel (FLOR), 21.41
Chris Guiliano (ND), 21.69
Matt King (TFA), 21.70
Jack Alexy (CAL), 21.76
Michael Andrew (MASA), 21.81
Ryan Held (SUN), 21.85
Quintin McCarty (WOLF), 21.97
Adam Chaney (FLOR), 22.08

Caeleb Dressel is back on top.

After qualifying for Paris in the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay by virtue of his third-place finish, Dressel has added his first individual event to his schedule by storming to the win in the men’s 50 freestyle.

Dressel exploded off the blocks and charged through the splash and dash, clocking a 21.41 for the win. Not only is that his fastest time since 2022, it ranks him 4th in the world this year, .07 seconds ahead of his Florida training partner Josh Liendo.

Chris Guiliano added a tenth from his semifinal swim, but still got his hand on the wall a hundredth ahead of Matt King for second place. With the swim, Guiliano becomes the first American man since Matt Biondi to qualify for the 50/100/200 freestyle individually. While finishing a heart-breaking third place in as small a margin as possible, King took a tenth off his lifetime best in 21.70.

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