Caeleb Dressel denied again at US swimming's World Championship trials
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Caeleb Dressel has yet to secure a spot for the World Championships in July.
PHOTO: AFP
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LOS ANGELES – Seven-time Olympic gold medallist Caeleb Dressel was denied again in his bid to return to the World Championships on Thursday, finishing tied for fifth in the 100m butterfly at the US championships in Indianapolis.
The American, who set the world record in winning the 100m fly gold in Tokyo in 2021,
Months away from the pool have made a difference this week for Dressel, 26, who was 29th in the preliminaries of the 100m free before a third-place finish in the 50m fly – an encouraging performance but not enough to make the team for July’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
In fact, Dressel was ninth-fastest in the 100m fly heats on Thursday, but gained a place in the championship final when Ryan Murphy pulled out of the event.
He could not capitalise as Dare Rose won in a personal best of 50.74 seconds with 16-year-old Thomas Heilman second in 51.19sec. Dressel swam 51.66sec.
Dressel, who won the 100m fly, 100m free and 50m free at the Tokyo Games, will have one more shot on Saturday in the 50m free.
He has largely declined to discuss his decision to step away from the pool and his comeback, with coach Anthony Nesty telling broadcaster NBC before the championships that “training-wise, he did a really nice job coming back”.
“All we can do is support Caeleb where he’s at,” Nesty added of the swimmer who took a break because of health issues.
“And he knows where he’s at.”
In other events on Thursday, Torri Huske lined up a defence of the 100m fly world title she won in Budapest with a victory in 56.18sec. Gretchen Walsh was second in 56.34sec, holding off Kate Douglass whose time of 56.43sec saw the race produce the three fastest times in the world in 2023.
Katie Grimes powered past Alex Walsh on the final freestyle leg to win the 400m individual medley in 4min 33.80sec. Walsh, the reigning 200 IM world champion, also booked a World Championships berth with her runner-up finish in 4:35.46.
Carson Foster added a second event to his Fukuoka programme, winning the men’s 400m IM in 4:08.14, two days after winning the 200m fly. Chase Kalisz was second in 4:08.22.
Lilly King added a 50m breaststroke win to her 200m breaststroke title. Nic Fink, the 2022 world champion, won the men’s event. Katherine Berkoff won the women’s 50m backstroke and reigning world champion Justin Ress won the men’s 50m back. AFP
