Caeleb Dressel finally books spot in Paris at swim trials

Field Level Media|published: Fri 21st June, 23:32 2024

Caeleb Dressel competes in the 100-meter butterfly semifinals, Friday, June 21, 2024, during the seventh day of the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

One of the most decorated American swimmers is finally on his way to Paris to compete for individual Olympic gold.

Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel won the men's 50-meter freestyle final Friday at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Indianapolis, booking a spot in an individual event at the Paris Games that begin in July.

Dressel, who won five gold medals in Tokyo in 2021, took a break from swimming in 2022. He failed to qualify for the World Championships in 2023 and finished third in the men's 100 free final on Wednesday, qualifying only for the relay team. But touching the wall in 21.41 on Friday -- .37 seconds off his American-record time -- Dressel showed he is indeed back to form.

"Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's tough. That was a tough one," Dressel said of the final after the race. "I was not super confident until I got up on that block. There's only so much you can do in the 50. It's head down and go fast."

Chris Guiliano finished second in the race at 21.69 to book his third individual spot in Paris. He won the men's 100 free and finished second in the 200 free earlier in the trials.

Along with winning gold in the 50 and 100 freestyle events at Tokyo, the 27-year-old Dressel won gold in the 100 butterfly. He won his semifinal in that event on Friday, as well, and will race for another spot in Paris in the final on Saturday.

One racer who already has multiple entries booked in Paris is Regan Smith. Having already won the women's 100 backstroke (in world-record time) and the women's 200 butterfly, Smith on Friday won the 200 backstroke to qualify for a third individual event in Paris.

She finished in 2:05.16 -- swimming under a world-record pace halfway through the race. Phoebe Bacon finished second at 2:06.27 to take the other spot in Paris.

Carson Foster completed the individual medley double in Indianapolis, winning the men's 200 IM final with a time of 1:55.65. On Sunday, Foster won the 400 IM final. Shaine Casas was second in the 200 on Friday, finishing 0.18 seconds behind Foster.

Three finals will take place Saturday:

--Men's 100 butterfly

--Women's 200 IM

--Men's 800 freestyle

The trials end Sunday.

--Field Level Media

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