Winning Olympic gold ‘doesn’t get old’ for Caeleb Dressel after American swimmer clinches eighth

PARIS – Caeleb Dressel has made it a habit of earning only gold medals at the Olympics and the American swimmer, who won his eighth on July 27 in Paris, said he still experiences the same high as when he got his first gold in 2016.

The United States beat Australia and Italy to win the 4x100m freestyle at the Paris La Defense Arena, as Dressel swam the anchor leg and brought gold home – his fifth relay title at the Olympics and third straight in the event.

Jack Alexy, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong and Dressel combined to clock 3min 9.28sec to see off Australia (3:10.35), with Italy coming third in 3:10.70.

Dressel was all smiles as the American flag was raised and the anthem played, but the 27-year-old soon had tears streaming down his face when he embraced his family – including his five-month-old son – moments later.

“It’s really special, making the team in front of him and then winning a gold in front of him. Just checking little boxes that I never would have thought to create throughout my career,” he said.

“You can’t explain this moment until you’re on the podium watching the flag go up... I remember how it was for me, my first gold. I mean I lost it, I made it off the podium but it’s special seeing that and being a part of that with these guys.

“It’s an extremely special moment and no one can take that away from them (his teammates). Relays are a little more special. It takes me right back to my first gold, it really doesn’t get old.”

Dressel won two golds in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and added five more at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

While he was unable to keep his emotions in check, teammate Alexy was far more stoic on the podium despite claiming his first Olympic gold medal.

“I was just truly honoured to be part of this relay and watching Caeleb finish that off for us and making Team USA proud and starting off with a gold,” the 21-year-old said.

“I was able to find my family (later) and that was awesome. That’s when I got really emotional. I saw them tearing up, they’ve been awesome the whole ride.”

But it was Armstrong’s scorching split of 46.75 that really helped the US pip Australia to the gold.

“I just went in! I will give my entire body and soul up for these boys,” he said of his third-leg effort.

“And I knew I had to give Caeleb everything I had, so I’m glad I was able to get my job done.”

Australia, however, were not to be denied in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, winning their fourth consecutive gold in the event in 3min 28.92sec, the second-fastest time in history.

The Dolphins have held the world record since 2014, lowering it four times since then.

The quartet of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris held off historic foes and runners-up the US (3:30.20), while China (3:30.30) took the bronze.

Winning gold was especially satisfying for Jack, who missed the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 over a contested doping ban, which sent her “through hell”.

“I already proved my redemption by coming here, so this is all fun and games for me, I’m just enjoying the experience,” she said.

With the 2020 Games in her sights, her world came crashing down after testing positive for muscle growth agent ligandrol in an out-of-competition test in June 2019.

She was banned for four years despite proclaiming her innocence, insisting the substance entered her system by contamination.

Ahead of Tokyo, the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport concluded that “on the balance of probabilities” Jack “did not intentionally ingest ligandrol”, but it was too late for her to make the team.

“It’s a really special moment to stand on the podium with the other three girls, and represent the other girls from our heat swim,” she said.

“I’m really proud of myself and how far I’ve come, but I definitely missed that opportunity in 2021.”

McKeon, meanwhile, bagged her sixth Olympic gold and 12th medal overall at age 30.

“Wow. I don’t keep track of that kind of stuff... it’s an honour really,” she told the Australian media.

“To be part of this (4x100m relay team), it’s extremely hard and this is a team of six with Bronte (Campbell) and Liv (Olivia Wunsch) – we couldn’t do it without this group of six. Everyone wants to be part of this team. I feel really honoured to be part of it.”

Germany’s Lukas Martens also took gold on July 27, in a men’s 400m freestyle final stacked with world champions.

Leading from start to finish, he touched the wall in 3min 41.78sec to finish 0.43sec ahead of Australian silver medallist Elijah Winnington, while South Korean Kim Woo-min took bronze in 3:42.50.

Kim is the reigning world champion, while Winnington held that crown in 2022.

It was Martens’ first Olympic medal after making his debut at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games.

He admitted he was targeting the world record – Paul Biedermann’s 3:40.07 has stood since the super-suit era in 2009.

“Yes, but the goal was definitely a medal. If it had been bronze, it would have been OK. I was thinking about gold, and now it’s actually come true,” he said.

“A lot of people expected the record to fall – I don’t care, I’m on top now.” REUTERS, AFP