Caeleb Dressel Stalking World Record of Amaury Leveaux in 100 Freestyle

Aug 1, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; Caeleb Dressel (USA) celebrates after winning the men's 4x100m medley final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Caeleb Dressel Stalking World Record of Amaury Leveaux in 100 Freestyle

During his International Swimming League (ISL) career, Caeleb Dressel has routinely produced spectacular performances for the Cali Condors, the franchise he guided to last season’s team title. He has established five world records, spanning the 50-meter freestyle (twice), 100 individual medley (twice) and 100 butterfly (once).

One of the big questions surrounding Dressel as Season Three of the ISL rolls on in Naples is this: Will the 24-year-old take down the world record in the 100 freestyle? The global mark in that event is one of the oldest on the books, having endured since Frenchman Amaury Leveaux rocketed to a time of 44.94 at the 2008 edition of the European Short Course Championships.

Dressel, of course, is coming off a spectacular showing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won five gold medals. Aside from fueling the United States to a pair of relay titles, Dressel claimed solo golds in the 50 freestyle, 100 free and 100 butterfly. The fly featured a world-record performance and duel with Hungarian Kristof Milak, the silver medalist.

If Dressel cracks Leveaux’s record this season, the most likely moment will be the ISL championship match in early 2022. That point of the season is where the American star flourished last year. Still, it is worth noting that Dressel looks superb during the regular season in Naples. Specifically, Dressel clocked 45.47 in the 100 free during the Condors’ Match Four triumph over the L.A. Current, Aqua Centurions and D.C. Trident.

The fact that Dressel has looked so sharp during the early portion of the ISL’s third campaign is a testament to not only his pure talent and training, but also his mental toughness. For Dressel to maintain such a competitive edge after a draining Olympiad, where he was constantly in the spotlight, is an impressive feat.

Dressel flirted with the short-course world record in the 100 freestyle last year, when he registered an American mark of 45.08. Now, we wait and watch to see if Dressel can go a little quicker this season and erase Leveaux from the record book.

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