With the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris just around the corner, we’re all getting nostalgic for past Olympic glories. In many sports, speed is the key to victory. Who can forget Michael Johnson‘s blazing finish in the 1996 Atlanta Games, or the way Usain Bolt effortlessly outpaced his competitors throughout his Olympic career?
But swimming is a whole different beast. It’s a grueling sport, demanding incredible strength and endurance. Swimmers have to breathe much less frequently than cyclists, even though they’re pushing through water, which is much denser than air. They also experience a significant drop in heart rate. It’s no surprise that elite swimmers consume massive amounts of calories to fuel their intense training.
The Speed Demon: Caeleb Dressel
In the pool, speed is a combination of raw power, flawless technique, and unwavering dedication. While Katie Ledecky dominates the women’s side, the fastest male swimmer isn’t Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time. That title belongs to Caeleb Dressel, a 27-year-old swimming sensation from Florida. Dressel is aiming to make history in Paris, becoming the fourth swimmer ever to win seven medals at a single Olympics.
How does Dressel compare to Phelps? While Phelps famously swam against a Great White shark and only lost by a couple of seconds, Dressel has consistently proven himself to be faster in the pool. His powerful vertical jump, perfect entry dive, and unmatched underwater control give him an edge. Dressel’s coach, Gregg Troy, has even compared him to a seal or penguin, emphasizing his exceptional ability to move through water. In 2017, Dressel made history by becoming the first person to swim the first 15 meters of a 50-meter freestyle event in under five seconds.
Breaking Records and Making History
Dressel has consistently shattered records. At the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, he broke Michael Phelps’s decade-old 100-meter butterfly record. Then, in the 2020 International Swimming League final, Dressel displayed his superhuman abilities once again by becoming the first person to swim the 100-meter butterfly in under 48 seconds. He also broke a 50-meter freestyle record at the same event.
Although Dressel may not surpass Phelps’s record-breaking 28 Olympic medals, he is building an impressive collection of his own. He won two gold medals at the 2016 Rio Games and five at the 2020 Tokyo Games, including a new Olympic record in the 50-meter freestyle. Dressel is undoubtedly one of the most dominant swimmers of his generation, and his pursuit of greatness continues in Paris.
Don’t Miss the Action!
To see if Dressel can break more records in the months leading up to the Olympics, watch the Olympic Trials on USA Network. You can also catch live coverage of the Opening Ceremony on NBC and Peacock. The Games will be an exciting spectacle, filled with world-class athletes chasing their dreams and pushing the boundaries of human achievement. Be sure to tune in and witness history in the making!
