OMAHA, Nebraska – With Michael Phelps five years into retirement, the stage is set in Tokyo for Caeleb Dressel. Katie Ledecky is ready to extend her dominance, competing in four individual events plus relays at the pandemic-delayed Olympics.
They lead a powerful US swimming team that is expected to top the medals standings once again. Dressel made the team in the 50 and 100 freestyles and the 100 butterfly. He could swim in at least three relays in Tokyo, including the new mixed 4×100 medley featuring men and women.
He closed his trials by tying his American record of 21.04 seconds in the 50 free, fastest in the world this year.
“There is plenty we can do to get better and move forward from this,” he said according to AP. “This was a really fun meet. I got better with each event. I’m ready to get back in the water with a plan.”
Five years ago in Rio, Dressel won two gold medals as part of relays. Since then, he won 13 gold medals and two silvers at the world championships in 2017 and 2019.
Tabbed as the potential successor to Phelps, Dressel will be under intense pressure and scrutiny in Tokyo.
Ledecky will swim the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyles in Tokyo. She’ll be the favorite to defend her 800 title and win the longest race for women – a new event at next month’s games – in which she owns the world record.
But she won’t be favored in the 200 or 400, where Ledecky faces a potential showdown with Ariarne Titmus of Australia. Ledecky surprised herself with times that were not as fast as she had expected in Omaha.
“I don’t think we have to get too caught up in what times people are going here versus anywhere else in the world right now,” she said.
Simone Manuel fought back after missing the team in the 100 freestyle, winning the 50 free on the last night of trials.
Days after revealing she had been diagnosed with overtraining syndrome in March, Manuel gathered enough speed to hold off Abbey Weitzeil by one-hundredth of a second, winning in 24.29.
It was a popular victory, with fans on their feet cheering. Weitzeil was silently cheering as she raced alongside Manuel.
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