In our countdown to the Tokyo Olympics we are bringing you regular profiles of some of the biggest medal contenders at the upcoming quadrennial event. At the swimming pools in Tokyo, don't miss one of the rising stars of the pool - American Caeleb Dressel.
Caeleb Dressel (Swimming)Date of Birth
: August 16, 1996
Age: 24
Birth Place: Green Cove Springs, Florida
Sport/Event: Men's Butterfly, Freestyle
Major achievements:*2016 2 gold medals in 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley at Rio Olympics
*2017 7 gold medals in Budapest World Championship
*2018 6 gold medals and 3 silver medals in Hangzhou World Championship (Short Course)
*2018 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze at Pan Pacific Championships
*2019 6 gold medals and 2 silver medals in Gwangju World Championship
Caeleb Dressel, a double Olympic relay gold medallist in 2016 and winner of 13 world championship golds, is an American freestyle and butterfly swimmer who specialises in the sprint events. The Tokyo Games will be his second Olympic appearance.
Dressel currently holds the world records in the men's 100m butterfly (both long course - pool length 50m and short course - pool length 25m), men's 50 meter freestyle (short course), and men's 100m individual medley (short course).
Dressel started his career in 2012 at the age of 15 at the United States Olympic trials. Later, in the year 2013, Dressel won six gold medals at the
FINA World Junior Swimming Championships
.
Dressel's previous performances and his versatility makes him one of the strongest candidates for the upcoming Tokyo games.
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.
Tagged as a potential successor to Phelps, Dressel will be under intense pressure and scrutiny in Tokyo. He will be the favourite in the 50m and 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly.
He could swim in at least three relays in Tokyo, including the new mixed 4x100m medley featuring men and women. Wait for the relays and Dressel could be targeting as many as seven golds.
The only swimmers in Olympic history who have won 7 medals or more in one edition of the Games are Mark Spitz,
Matt Biondi
and
Michael Phelps
- all Americans. Can Dressel join that elite list in Tokyo?
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