World Championships: Caeleb Dressel Misses 100 Freestyle Semifinals and Mixed Medley Relay On Medical Grounds

Caeleb Dressel of United States prepares to compete in the 50m Butterfly Men Heats during the FINA 19th World Championships at Duna Arena in Budapest, Hungary, June 18th, 2022. Caeleb Dressed placed 2nd. Photo Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Photo Courtesy: DeepBlue Media

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World Championships: Caeleb Dressel Misses 100 Freestyle Semifinals and Mixed Medley Relay On Medical Grounds

Defending champion Caeleb Dressel was forced to withdraw from the semifinals of the 100-meter freestyle and was not on the United States mixed 400 medley relay during the fourth finals session of the World Championships in Budapest. The American star, who won the 100 freestyle title at the last two World Champs, was on the original start sheet that was issued. Shortly after that publication, Dressel was removed from the start lists.

With Dressel out of the 100 freestyle, Romanian teenager David Popovici is the heavy favorite for the gold medal when the final is held on Wednesday night. Popovici dropped a world junior record of 47.13 in the semifinals and is expected to challenge the world record of 46.91, set by Brazilian Cesar Cielo in 2009.

USA Swimming provided a statement to Swimming World, attributed to National Team Managing Director Lindsay Mintenko: “A decision has been made by Team USA in consultation with Caeleb, his coach and the team’s medical staff for him to withdraw from the 100-meter freestyle event on medical grounds. The team will determine his participation in the events later in the week.”

Dressel was also not part of the U.S. squad for the mixed 400 medley relay. Instead, the Americans went with the team of Hunter Armstrong (back), Nic Fink (breast), Torri Huske (fly) and Claire Curzan (free), with the quartet capturing the gold medal in dominant fashion.

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Nathan

1 year ago

So he broke one of his limbs?

Flexsaurus

1 year ago

Reply to Nathan

How can a 42 year old come 2nd in the 50 fly? physiologically it is not possible loosing fast twitch power fibers as one ages. clearly there is PEDs at play. Just shows how one can beat drug tests as the dark world of perfomance science improves.

Pedro Toledo Valle

1 year ago

Reply to Flexsaurus

Nathan, your comment is not well written. You really wanted to say that it is imposible for Nicolás Santos to hace won naturally without the use of drugs, but it is delicate to speak or make comments without proof. I know athletes that Performa very well even being old. Besides this, the 50 is a very short event.