It was another historical performance for Caeleb Dressel in the semi-finals of the men’s 100 butterfly at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, as the 22-year-old unleashed the fourth sub-50 swim of his illustrious career to re-lower his U.S. Open Record.
After getting the monkey off his back on Thursday night, officially qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team by winning the 100 freestyle, Dressel dropped a new U.S. Open Record in the 100 fly heats on Friday morning, clocking 50.17 to break Michael Phelps‘ 2009 mark of 50.22.
Then in the semis, Dressel really let it fly, soaring his way to a time of 49.76, the third-fastest of all-time.
Dressel now owns four of history’s six swims under 50 seconds, with Phelps and Milorad Cavic both doing so once in their epic clash at the 2009 World Championships.
Additionally, Dressel takes hold of a staggering seven of the 10-fastest swims ever.
All-Time Performances, Men’s 100 Butterfly (LCM)
- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.50 – 2019
- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.66 – 2019
- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.76 – 2021
- Michael Phelps (USA), 49.82 – 2009
- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.86 – 2017
- Milorad Cavic (SRB), 49.95 – 2009
- Milorad Cavic (SRB), 50.01 – 2009
- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 50.07 – 2017
- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 50.08 – 2017
- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 50.17 – 2021
In terms of splitting, Dressel made up nearly all of his ground on the second 50 relative to his prelim performance, closing over three tenths quicker in 26.45.
In fact, that was the reigning two-time world champion’s fastest back-half split ever, with his previous-quickest being the 26.55 he came home in at the 2017 World Championships when he went sub-50 for the first time.
Split Comparison, Dressel’s Sub-50 Swims
| Dressel, 2019 Worlds (Semi) | Dressel, 2019 Worlds (Final) | Dressel, 2021 Trials (Semi) | Dressel, 2017 Worlds (Final) |
| 22.83 | 23.09 | 23.31 | 23.31 |
| 26.67 | 26.57 | 26.45 | 26.55 |
| 49.50 | 49.66 | 49.76 | 49.86 |
Heading into Saturday’s final, Dressel sits almost a second and a half clear of the next-fastest competitor in the 100 fly field, so it will essentially be Dressel versus the clock, and then seven others duking it out for a spot on the team.
Tom Shields, a 2016 Olympian in both the men’s 100 and 200 fly, qualified second in 51.20, and will have his final opportunity to make a second straight Olympic team in the final.
