Caeleb Dressel just smoked Michael Andrew in two events on Day 7 of the US Swimming Olympic trials. It all started when the 27-year-old walked to the pool for 50m freestyle, swimming in lane 4 for the finals. He was up against NCAA stars like Matt King and Jack Alexy, with the biggest battle being against Andrew. After all, the MACA swimmer was eyeing for his second Olympics, and Dressel was just back from a mental health break.

But Caeleb looked better than ever, posting 21.41 on the board. This marked his first individual win at the trials, along with a Paris ticket in hand. He was followed by Notre Dame’s Chris Guiliano, who finished at 21.69, marking his first Olympic qualification. And then, Michael Andrew was forced to finish 5th, courtesy of the NCAA boys.

Crushed, fingers crossed, Andrew returned to the rest area to charge up for the 100m butterfly. It was his final chance to qualify for Paris or walk home with the biggest upset. Unfortunately, the stars weren’t in his favor as Caeleb Dressel once again defeated him and clocked the fastest seed time. While the 27-year-old managed a safe 50.79, Michael had a 2.19+ difference, adding 52.98.

This was a major catastrophe as Michael Andrew went 2 seconds slower than his fastest 50.80. The American had achieved the time at the TYR Pro Series in 2021. Since then, even Phelps had an eye on this swimmer, commentating on his 200IM performance. He mentioned that the Tokyo medalist could improve his form, just with a small change. And while Andrew acknowledged it, he turned it into a promise. However, things didn’t go as planned, marking the biggest upset of his career.

To talk about Caeleb’s rivalry with Michael, the two go way back. The duo first met during the 2019 Worlds when Dressel outranked him in the 50m and 100m fly. Fast forward to 2020, history repeated itself with Caeleb Dressel winning the 100m fly at the Tokyo Olympics, while Michael’s journey ended in the semi-finals. Since then, revenge clouded Michael’s mind until he turned the tables at the Pro Swim Series in 2022. Andrew clinched victory over Caeleb as the Illinois crowd stood up for the 100m freestyle. The scoreboard read 51.74, with Dressel finishing 4th.

But it hurts – four years of hard work, all in vain. While the swimming community will celebrate Caeleb’s comeback,  Andrew will walk out of Indianapolis shedding tears. Hopefully, the latter will return for LA 2028 with a different ending.

Caeleb Dressel – father, olympian, & “The Comeback King”

Fans were deeply worried for the US star after he announced a mental break from the sport. The news was unexpected, especially since Caeleb had just become the Olympic champion. However, they understood the underlying struggles and prayed for his recovery. Then, on December 1, 2023, the day everyone was waiting for arrived as Dressel won the 100 fly at the US Open.

Post that, he remained unstoppable, thanks to his wife, child, coach, and teammates. Each of them inspired and drove him to where he is now: a great father, a successful Olympian, and an ambassador of comebacks.