Dressel set for sprint double
BUDAPEST: Caeleb Dressel was on the verge of a super Saturday at the world championships after clocking the fastest times into both the men’s 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly finals.
America’s Dressel already has three gold medals in Budapest following victories in the 100m freestyle, plus 4x100m freestyle and mixed 4x100m medley relay wins.
The 20-year-old clocked 21.29 secs in Friday’s freestyle semifinal, then half an hour later blasted out 50.07 in the fly semis to make him the name to beat in both finals on Saturday.
Singapore’s Joseph Schooling, the men’s Olympic 100m butterfly champion, was fourth fastest into the butterfly final at 0.71 behind Dressel and could only admire the American’s
Caleb’s just been phenomenal – he’s just had an amazing meet. He’s been on form, no one can touch him right now. — Joseph Schooling
stamina.
“Caleb’s just been phenomenal – he’s just had an amazing meet,” said Schooling.
“He’s been on form, no one can touch him right now. It’s pretty impressive actually, it makes for an exciting race tomorrow.”
Katie Ledecky can pick up her 14th career world gold on Saturday, while sprinter Sarah Sjostorm hopes to fix her freestyle heartache with butterfly gold.
Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in world championships’ history, was the fastest into the women’s 800m freestyle final.
Should the 20-year-old favourite defend her title, it will give her a fifth gold in Budapest. — AFP