Dressel passes Phelps with 8 medals at worlds
Alyssa Roenigk joins Outside the Lines to discuss her excitement for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the return of baseball and softball, and the new sports at the Summer Olympics. (4:24)
GWANGJU, South Korea — This time, Caeleb Dressel stands alone.
The American won his record eighth medal at the world swimming championships Sunday, helping the U.S. to silver in the 4×100-meter medley relay after anchor Nathan Adrian was overtaken in the closing meters.
“Part of me is very happy,” Dressel said. “Part of me wants to cry that I’m done with it. I’ve got pimples on my face from just the stress of the meet. I’m probably losing some hair.”
One night after becoming the first swimmer to win three golds in one night at a worlds for the second time, Dressel’s haul included six golds at the biggest meet after the Olympics.
“It was a very tough week,” he said. “I knew I was going to have to come with fire, passion and pride in every single race.”
Two years ago in Hungary, Dressel tied Michael Phelps’ record of seven golds at a single worlds, including three in one night.
Dressel hauled the U.S. from fourth to first on his butterfly leg with a split of 49.28 seconds. Adrian found himself in a three-way fight with Britain and Russia coming down the stretch.
Brit Duncan Scott surged ahead approaching the wall and got there first with a split of 46.14 to Adrian’s 47.60.
“That last 15 meters, it’s tough,” Adrian said. “I was trying to be strong, I was trying to hold on, but this time I couldn’t do it.”
Luke Greenbank, Adam Peaty, James Guy and Scott took gold for Britain in 3 minutes, 28.10 seconds.
Ryan Murphy, Andrew Wilson, Dressel and Adrian finished in 3:28.45. It was just the second silver, and first since 1998, in an event the Americans have won 13 times.
“There’s a time to get silver in relays, and it’s at a world championships, that’s for sure,” Adrian said.
Russia earned bronze.
Dressel’s golds came in the 50 and 100 free, 50 and 100 butterfly, mixed 4×100 free relay and 4×100 free relay. His other silver was in the mixed 4×100 medley relay. He was named the FINA male swimmer of the meet.
“He’s a phenomenal talent,” South Africa’s Chad le Clos said. “He seems to get better throughout the days.”
The U.S. team finished with the most gold medals (14) and overall medals (27). Australia was second with 19 medals and five golds.
Japan’s Daiya Seto survived a last-lap challenge to win the men’s 400 IM in 4:08.95.
Jay Litherland of the U.S. had the fastest final lap (27.89) to chase Seto to the wall. Litherland took silver in 4:09.22. Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand earned bronze.
Florian Wellbrock of Germany made history with his victory in the 1,500 freestyle.
With his earlier win in the 10-kilometer open-water race, Wellbrock became the first swimmer to win gold in two sports at a single world championships.
He pulled away going into the final turn to win in 14:36.54.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.