SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side, or you can find the poll embedded at the bottom of this post.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers whether Caeleb Dressel is the greatest yards swimmer in history:
RESULTS
Question: Is Caeleb Dressel the greatest yards swimmer ever?
- Yes – 76.3%
- No – 23.7%
More than three-quarters of SwimSwam voters crowned Florida’s Caeleb Dressel the greatest swimmer in the history of the short course yards format.
That comes after Dressel exploded for three NCAA titles as a junior, breaking two American and NCAA records and putting up the fastest 50 free split in history. Dressel was the standout of the men’s NCAA Championships, becoming the only man to win three titles outright and the first to do so since Ryan Lochte in the mid-2000s.
Dressel swam the maximum 14 total swims at men’s NCAAs, carrying a heavy load for Florida. He had a hand in 178 of Florida’s 294.5 total points. And it’s not just this year’s results that earned Dressel this fan-voted title. Historically, he dominates the 50 yard freestyle in an unprecedented way.
Dressel now owns the entire top 10 swims in history in the 50 yard free:
Top 10 Performances In History – Men’s 50y Freestyle
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Meet | Event |
| 1 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.20 | 2016 NCAAs | 50 FR Finals |
| 2 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.23 | 2017 NCAAs | 50 FR Finals |
| 3 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.23 | 2017 NCAAs | 200 FR Relay Finals |
| 4 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.23 | 2016 SECs | 50 FR Finals |
| 5 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.24 | 2016 NCAAs | 200 FR Relay Finals |
| 6 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.29 | 2016 NCAAs | 50 FR Prelims |
| 7 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.32 | 2016 NCAAs | 200 FR Relay Prelims |
| 8 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.38 | 2017 NCAAs | 50 FR Prelims |
| 9 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.39 | 2016 SECs | 50 FR Prelims |
| 10 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.46 | 2017 SECs | 50 FR Finals |
In the 100 yard free, Dressel holds the 3 fastest swims of all-time (40.00, 40.46, 40.48) along with 6 of the top 10. And after this year’s NCAA meet, he holds the fastest 100 yard fly swim of all-time along with 3 of the top 10 swims in history.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks voters which major international meet of the past week was most exciting:
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Let’s also not forget about his 51 100 breast
I agree 100% with what Lane Four said above. Every generation has its “greatest ever”. As he said it very well, breaking records is an indicator but not enough to call someone the greatest. If not, then Dave Walters is the greatest US 100 free swimmer ever because he owns the American record only thanks to the magical suits! 😆 Who seriously thinks he’s better than Matt Biondi or Nathan Adrian? It doesn’t mean anything! It’s not because you swim a few seconds faster in 2017 with underwaters, big muscles, much technology and high tech suits than someone in brief with no underwater in the 70s that you are better. Some people believe that swimming has begun in the 2000s.… Read more »
I mean this is kinda crazy cause Katie hoff and Phelps never did it cause they were pro at 15….hoff clearly could have been U mean she had the records til ledecky…..very impressive in EVERY event. Distance free, dominate, I’M dominate, first Olympic trial cut as in breast, but her fly back n free just as good. She would have been best college athlete 100%. When she was 19 she won 5 individual events at Olympic trials….if I am not mistaken no women has ever done that…..As far as Phelps….he trained longcourse cause the Olympic not doubt he would be the best…his walls are on point
It probably doesn’t help Lochte’s case that in his sophomore year they swam NCAAs in meters. I still give Dressell the edge, but it’s worth noting that Lochte is missing yards times data points for 2005.
How does Dressel have the edge in your mind?
Dressel is no doubt amazing, but could we please put some respect on Natalie Anne Coughlin’s name???
Thanks.
I’d like to add that Katie Hoff broke 4 American records at the 2007 NBAC Christmas Invitational (in the 400 IM, 200 IM, 500 Free, and 1000 Free); not that that makes her the greatest yards swimmer ever necessarily, but it WAS impressive.
I absolutely agree. Add Katie’s name to the list. I regret not putting her amongst the others.
That is nice but how many actually know the history of this sport to make such a call? Every generation has a “greatest ever”. How about Tracy Caulkins in 1978 breaking FIVE American Records at the 1978 AAU Short Course Nationals? Breaking FIVE individual American records from the 100 free to the 400 IM! What about Mark Spitz breaking barriers for his time in the freestyle and butterfly at NCAAs and AAU Short Course Nationals? John Naber. Debbie Meyer. Janet Evans. Pablo Morales. Matt Biondi. Don Schollander. Claudia Kolb. These swimmers were also labeled as the greatest ever for their generation. Breaking records and time barriers is an indicator but not a reason to call someone THE greatest. Nope. Caleb… Read more »
One month after his admittedly stellar performances and people are already calling him the best yards swimmer ever? How disappointing. One can only award these kinds of titles in retrospect, after enough time has past for someone else to approach or beat their times.
It took many years before Natalie Couglin’s American records were beat and she held them in 3 strokes: freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. It took years and a complete revamp of the stroke before anyone beat Steve Lundquists’ breast stroke records. Years before anyone approached and broke Janet Evans’ records.
To anoint Dressel the “best yards swimmer of all time” is way, way too hasty. Give it some time. Who knows how long his records will last.
I agree.