Phelps: Dressel should be excellent for eight Tokyo golds

GWANGJU, South Korea — Michael Phelps was watching from dwelling in Arizona as Caeleb Dressel dominated the world championships.

The brand new American swimming torchbearer gained eight medals, together with six golds, at worlds, the most important meet outdoors the Olympics. Two years in the past in Hungary, he tied Phelps’ document of seven golds at a single worlds, together with three in a single night time. Dressel set his personal commonplace in Gwangju, the place he once more gained three golds in a single night time.

Phelps stated in a telephone interview with The Related Press that Dressel must be excellent to win seven or eight golds in Tokyo. Phelps, in fact, gained eight golds on the 2008 Beijing Video games.

“If there’s somebody who would not care how onerous it will be, how onerous they are going to must work, how a lot ache they’re keen to place their physique by, we’d see it,” he stated.

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Phelps instructed that Dressel might be a “welcome boost” to the 4×200 free relay.

“Clearly, he is obtained the velocity,” he stated. “At this level, he is simply obtained to have higher endurance.”

Dressel nonetheless feels his retired teammate’s affect. He is aware of the 23-time Olympic gold medalist’s occasions and watched how Phelps swam his races.

“It is actually particular for me simply to have that one little second the place I claimed I used to be the very best within the historical past of swimming,” Dressel stated. “Only a younger child from a small city, it is simply loopy how far the game can go.”

Like Phelps, Dressel is his personal worst critic. The 22-year-old Floridian picks aside every of his races, whether or not the result’s gold, a world document or one thing much less lofty.

“I at all times search for the unhealthy,” he stated. “There’s lots to enhance on. I do know what to search for heading into subsequent yr, even for small meets. I take every occasion, and I’ve to be taught from it.”

What he realized in Gwangju is that he is his personal man.

Dressel’s golds got here within the 50 and 100 free, 50 and 100 butterfly, blended 4×100 free relay and 4×100 free relay. His different silver was within the blended 4×100 medley relay.

Dressel took down Phelps’ world document within the 100 fly, going 49.50 within the semifinals. He got here shut in Hungary however did not get it performed.

“Two years in the past I used to be just a little scared, I am going to admit, coming that shut,” Dressel stated. “It may be a scary thought to do one thing that is by no means been performed earlier than.”

The distinction in Gwangju was that Dressel awakened the day of the race and needed to go after the mark.

“I hope he was completely satisfied watching me,” he stated.