Caeleb Dressel, who has become the star of the USA Swimming junior ranks in the last 6 weeks, took a few minutes to chat with our Colin Blair after day 2 of the 2013 World Junior Championships.
The session saw Dressel take 6th in the 200 free in 1:49.29, dropping almost a second after just barely making the final, and add a bronze medal to his collection in the mixed 400 medley relay.
Dressel talks about a lot of really interesting subjects. That includes his personal impression that he is “not a morning swimmer,” his expectations of the 50 and 100 free, and what events he’s really going to try to explore next year.
Dressel is always a great interview, and this is no different. He still has some relay swims, plus the individual 50 and 100 freestyles to go in the meet.
Can we just take a second and listen to him talk. For a kid his age, he speaks to media very well.
And as far as wanting him to not take on other events. Yeah sprinters stick to sprints, when it comes to BIG meets. But, Ian Crocker held the 200 free national record in some age group for a long time and he was a butterflyer. (I know this cause I trained with his coach for several years)
I give the guy credit to not pigeon holing himself into “I only do the 50 and 100”. He is willing to explore. It always gives the individual the opportunity to improve. Weaknesses may one day prove to be strengths.
Let him splash around if he just likes it; it’s the part of a learning process. Of course if it eventually turns out his talent and passion lies in somewhere close to a 100-metres freestyle in a senior level, it will necessitate him to focus his training on the combination of 50&100 or 100&200 metres, Popov-like or Hoogie-like respectively.
He doesn’t train for the short events right now as he is still developing his talent. He is very versatile and has only scratched the surface of his talent. He is enjoying the moment of development through the sport while maintaining a high level of commitment to his craft.
Even though his 50 is quite amazing, I see him more as a 100-200m swimmer. I agree with him that his stroke is more of a 200m stroke. At the end of the day he’s only 17 years old and time will tell. There’s nothing wrong with exploring other possibilities.
You may be right.
a case in example:
When he was younger, McEvoy was much better in 50-100 than he was in 100-200 (in 2011 Lima he won golds and broke CRs in 50-100, while only bronze in 200 -or was it silver can’t remember), but now it is very apparent he is a 100-200 swimmer. Dressel could be the same. He is still very young.
I know I’m bashed when I say that but facts appear to prove me right.
NO NEED TO EXPLORE OTHER EVENTS!!!!
YOU ARE A SPRINTER!!!!
50 FREE AND 100 FREE ARE ENOUGH!!!!
MAGNUSSEN OR ADRIAN DON’T SWIM THE 200 IM!
PLEASE, IT WOULD BE ANOTHER WASTE OF TALENT.
Dressel even wants to swim 1,500 because he has tempo 🙂
When I heard this I thought of you, Bobo 🙂
He actually said “50 AND hundred”, not 1,500…
Why is everyone these days against a large program? I wonder what would happen if we told Thorpe, PVDH, or Phelps they should only stick to a couple of events. They’re young, so let them take on the audacious schedule, then they can pick their events in time.
Because if totally worked fine for Hagino at Worlds correct??
I’m with you!
addendum: the “I’m with you!” is for Phillip Johnson.
Bobo. He has plenty of time to specialize. Every great swimmer wants to push their boundaries. I know that Phelps and Franklin are unique talents but swimming a diverse schedule seemed to work well for them. Who knows? Perhaps Dressel is the same type of unique talent.