U.S. Nationals: ‘Interesting Journey’ Lands Dare Rose on Worlds Roster in 100 Fly

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Nationals: ‘Interesting Journey’ Lands Dare Rose on Worlds Roster in 100 Fly

It has been, in Dare Rose’s own words, an “interesting journey.” At 12, the native of Jersey City became a national age-group record holder in 2015.

It would take nearly a decade more, Rose’s 21st birthday approaching in November, for him to make an American team for a senior international meet.

Rose added his name to the lengthy list of first-timers for the United States at the World Championships this year, winning the 100 butterfly Thursday night at the Phillips 66 National Championships in Indianapolis.

Rose, the top seed out of prelims, prevailed in 50.74 seconds. He edged out Thomas Heilman, who went 51.19 to lower his 15-16 national age-group record and secure the second spot.

“After it, I didn’t have any words,” Rose said. “I was, not surprised, but I’ve been training really hard. I knew it was coming. I kind of had not the first 50 I wanted, so I tried to make the underwaters as strong as I could, and those last five strokes, I put my head down and got to the wall.”

Rose has gone from an impressive youth career to blossoming at Cal, with a few speedbumps along the way. He said he “didn’t really believe” he was capable of a title like this until a couple of years ago. He finished fourth at nationals in 2022 in the 100 fly and 30th back in 2021 at U.S. Olympic Trials.

The start to this week didn’t help, with only a so-so swim in prelims of the 200 fly. But he rallied to drop a 1:55.93 out of the B final. He fell just shy of a Worlds spot by finishing second in the 50 fly to Michael Andrew, .09 seconds back.

That latter swim at least let him know he was knocking on the door.

A big part of his journey was being able to overcome his own doubts, from his youth success and the inevitable challenges when the time stopped dropping as it did earlier in his career.

“It’s obviously been hard, being so good at a young age and not really plateauing but staying the same or getting a little bit faster,” he said. “I definitely thought about it a bunch. It’s been an interesting journey, I would say. It’s been great at Cal, though, super supportive. I love my teammates, my coaches, and they’ve helped get me through the tough moments.”

The result leaves Shaine Casas achingly close once again, the former Texas A&M swimmer third in 51.42. He led at the 50-meter mark but Heilman made up the .19-second deficit to secure the Worlds spot ahead of him.

Fellow veteran Zach Harting finished fourth in 51.55. Caeleb Dressel, who only reached the A final thanks to a scratch, summoned enough outside smoke to tie Gabriel Jett for fifth place. Dressel went 51.66, more than two seconds off his world record in this event from Tokyo and still shy of what it’ll take to get to Fukuoka.

Rose led all swimmers in prelims at 50.87 seconds. His path to the win got a little easier when Ryan Murphy, his Cal training mate, scratched after a time of 51.35 that made him the second seed (and got Dressel into the A final).

But the native of New York City will get his first major international senior meet out of it. He was fourth at nationals in 2022 in the 100 fly and 30th back in 2021 at U.S. Olympic Trials.

Heilman continues a stellar week that saw him get to Worlds in the 200 fly and further solidify his phenom status. He went 51.78 to improve his NAG in the 100 fly, then he blew that out of the water by more than a half-second at night.

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