Watch: Swimmer blows minds & makes history twice during NCAA championship
In the history of competitive swimming, no one had ever finished a 50-meter freestyle race in less than 18 seconds.
Florida’s Caeleb Dressel not only broke that elusive mark Thursday at the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship, he did it twice.
Dressel, from the University of Florida, first made history by swimming the opening leg of the 200-meter relay in a time of 17.81, the first time the lead-off leg of the 200-meter relay had broken the 18-second mark.
A short time later, he won the 50-meter freestyle title with a time of 17.63.
Despite the fact no one had ever gone faster than 18 seconds in the event, Dressel set a goal to do it in 17.6 seconds.
Perhaps he was the only one who thought that was possible.
“I think there needs to be a fine line between goal-setting and laughter. I don’t think you should sell yourself short. This meet, I think 17.6 was the perfect swim,” Dressel said, per Swimming World. “I am super happy with it. I got one of my goal times — 17.6. I wasn’t focused on 17.9, I was focused on 17.6 — that is what I thought I was capable of doing — maybe I lied to myself, I don’t know.”
Dressel said he has a relatively simple pre-race routine to keep his mind clear as he readies his attack on the record books.
“I usually say a prayer. It is calming. I just try to relax,” he said. “I just want to be in control of my emotions. I want to embrace the pressure and thrive on it — be in control of the moment.
17.81 from Caleb Dressel! WOW! 13 years ago at this same pool the 19 second barrier was broken. Today Caleb Dressel becomes the first man under 18 seconds!#NCAASD
— UNLV Swim & Dive (@UNLV_Swim_Dive) March 22, 2018
And while Dressel was showered with accolades on social media, he didn’t notice. He said after his historic performance that he’s abstaining from social media this season.
“I actually deleted all of my social media, so I don’t know what people are saying. I don’t have a clue,” he said. “It is kind of nice actually. It is very freeing. I have done that this year, set my own goals and ignore all the expectations and what people expect me to do. That is where 17.6 came from. It was a number that popped into my head and I thought it was possible.”
So whose record did Dressel break? His own. In fact, the 10 fastest times in the 50-meter event all belong to Dressel.
He also completed a 4-year sweep of the 50-meter title during his collegiate career. And Dressel and his three teammates were national champions in the 200-meter relay — a feat that gave Dressel a tremendous sense of pride.
“Probably the whole nation was laughing for that because we are not known as a sprint school, but we just proved the whole world wrong,” Dressel said.
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