Dressel ties Phelps' record with seventh gold

Michael Phelps, you've got company. Caeleb Dressel won his seventh gold medal of the world championships Sunday at Budapest, Hungary, putting the U.S. team ahead to stay with another dominating swim in the 4x100-meter medley relay.

Twenty-four hours after becoming the first swimmer to win three golds in one night at a major international meet, Dressel joined Phelps in another elite club: seven golds at the second-biggest meet after the Olympics.

Phelps was the first to do it at the 2007 worlds in Melbourne, Australia — a prelude to his unprecedented eight golds the following year at the Beijing Olympics.

Dressel matched the feat along the banks of the Danube, emerging as America's next swimming sensation.

"We're seeing a star being born," teammate Matt Grevers said.

The 20-year-old University of Florida student won three individual golds and was part of four winning relay teams.

"I'm pretty tired, but, you know, it's been a good season, a good year, and to put together a seven-day meet, it's a really nice feeling," Dressel said. "There's a lot more that goes into this than just the seven days that people see, so I'm very happy to be done."

It was a big night all around for the Americans.

Lilly King set her second individual world record of the meet in the 50 breaststroke, again besting Russian rival Yulia Efimova, and returned as part of the women's 4x100 medley relay that also broke the world record.

— Associated Press