Las Vegas (United States) (AFP)
The American Caeleb Dressel beat Florent Manaudou, at the same time beating the world record in the short course of the French, over 50 m during the last stage of the International Swimming League (ISL), Friday in La Vegas.
Representing Cali Condors in this new private team competition, Dressel swam the distance in 20 sec 24/100. Two hundredths faster than the previous record set by Manaudou at the 2014 Worlds (20.26).
This time the Frenchman, who swims for Energy Standard training, finished second in 20.69, ahead of Australian Kyle Chalmers (London Roar) third in 20.74.
It is the second time, after the Neapolitan stage of the ISL two months ago, that Dressel beat Manaudou in this 50 freestyle. In Campania, he won in 20.64, the Frenchman ending in 20.72.
Suffice to say that in view of their highly anticipated duel next summer at the Tokyo Games, the American, winner in July of eight medals, including six gold, at the Swimming Worlds, sent a strong message. Especially since before beating Manaudou, he won two other races in the hour before.
The French sprinter, who returned to swimming in the spring after more than two and a half years away from the pools, with the objective of winning back the Olympic gold in the 50m in 2020, can console himself with the slight improvement of his previous brand on the distance (20.72).
During this auspicious day, another world record in short course was broken, that of the 400 m medley, by the Japanese Daiya Seto. He established it in 3 min 54 sec 81/100.
Seto, who swims for Energy Standard and obviously hopes to shine at home during the Games, has erased from the shelves the American Ryan Lochte who had swum in 3: 55.50 at the 2010 Worlds in Dubai.
© 2019 AFP