INDIANAPOLIS — Caeleb Dressel secured his second individual race in Paris, setting him up for another opportunity to showcase his talent following his outstanding performance at the previous Olympics.
Keep an eye on Kate Douglass as well. She has the potential to be one of the biggest American stars in the pool.
And, naturally, Katie Ledecky will be competing in a variety of events.
Dressel, who won five gold medals at the Tokyo Games, finished first in the men’s 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials on Saturday night.
Following his victory in the 50 freestyle, Dressel recorded a winning time of 50.19 seconds, giving him the chance to defend another gold medal he earned in Tokyo.
“I believe I executed all of my swims as well as I could,” he stated.
Douglass secured her third individual event at the Olympics with a triumph in the 200-meter individual medley.
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She was in a tight race with Alex Walsh at the final turn, but no one could match Douglass on the freestyle leg.
She finished in 2:06.79, while Walsh secured the second Olympic spot in 2:07.86.
Douglass has proven to be one of the world’s most versatile swimmers, winning trials in the 200 breaststroke and 100 freestyle as well.
“I’m really pleased with that,” Douglass expressed. “I came into the meet aiming to win all three events, but I didn’t think I could achieve it. So I’m happy I did.”
Ledecky dominated her fourth victory at the trials, winning the 800 freestyle in 8 minutes, 14.12 seconds. Paige Madden secured the second spot in 8:20.71.
Ledecky intends to remove the 200 freestyle from her Olympic program but will partake in the 400, 800, and 1,500 free races, as well as the 4×200 free relay.
Dressel did not come close to his world record of 49.45, which he set in the previous Olympics. However, he led throughout the race and finished about a half-body length ahead of 17-year-old Thomas Heilman, who earned the second spot for Paris in 50.80.
Dressel will also participate in up to three relays at the Summer Games, putting him close to the six-event program he had in Tokyo. The only event he did not win three years ago was the mixed relay.
“Making it through the trials is tough,” Dressel remarked. “This is truly the most challenging part.”
The only individual gold medal Dressel will not defend in Paris is the 100 freestyle. He missed out after finishing third in his initial event at these trials.
After withdrawing from swimming during the 2022 world championships, leading to a lengthy break that allowed him to rediscover his passion for the sport, Dressel will approach the Olympics with slightly less hype than three years ago when he was hailed as the next Michael Phelps.
Dressel acknowledges that others around the world have posted faster times in his events this year. He openly admits that he may never achieve another personal best in his career. However, he is still someone who excels under the brightest spotlight, as it will be in Paris.
“I know I’m the defending champion,” Dressel stated. “There’s no way around that. But I believe I’m also chasing some of those competitors.”
Perhaps one of his greatest joys at these trials was having his 4-month-old son, August Wilder, present at Lucas Oil Stadium with his wife, Meghan.
“My son got to witness me making an Olympic team,” Dressel said, smiling broadly. “He may not remember it, but I’ll show him, trust me. I have pictures to prove it.”
Heilman will also compete in the 200 butterfly, securing victory in that event at the trials to become the youngest male to join the U.S. swim team since 15-year-old Michael Phelps in 2000.
“The butterfly is in good hands with this guy,” Dressel mentioned, pointing towards Heilman. “He’s intimidating, intimidating.”
Walsh will have the opportunity to swim at the Olympics with her sister Gretchen, finally making the team on the penultimate night of the trials.
“This means everything,” Alex Walsh remarked, who competed without her sister in Tokyo. “I wasn’t sure if I would make it to Paris after she did. This is a dream we’ve been nurturing for a long time.”
Simone Manuel, the first Black female swimmer to claim an individual gold, will have another chance on the final night of the meet to secure a spot in an individual event.
Already guaranteed her third Olympics as part of the 4×100 free relay, Manuel progressed to the 50 freestyle final on Sunday with the fourth-fastest time in Saturday night’s semifinals (24.51).
Gretchen Walsh emerged as the top qualifier in 24.06, closely followed by Torri Huske at 24.09. Abbey Weitzeil, who has also secured a spot on her third Olympic team as a relay swimmer, came next with 24.48.
