OMAHA, Neb. – Caeleb Dressel is one step away from achieving his Olympic dream, finishing 2nd in his semifinal in the 100 meter freestyle tonight and advancing to tomorrow's final.
The 100 meter freestyle was considered one of the events that he was a favorite to make the Olympic team and with number two qualifier and 22-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps dropping out of the event earlier in the day, Dressel's chances got a lot greater.
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They increased further when late Wednesday afternoon Ryan Lochte dropped out of the semifinals after posting a time of 49.13 in the prelims.
Dressel is also qualified to race in the 50 meter as well as the 200 meter freestyle along with the 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley.
Dressel is the current NCAA and American record holder in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle, achieved during the NCAA championships earlier this year.