TOKYO — U.S. swimmer Caeleb Dressel celebrated some more golden moments and joined an elite group in the process.
Dressel, 24, collected his fifth gold medal of the Tokyo Games on Sunday as part of the men’s 4x100 medley relay, The Associated Press reported. The United States has never lost the event at the Olympics.
Dressel joins Americans Mark Spitz, Michael Phelps and Matt Biondi, along with East Germany’s Kristin Otto, as the only swimmers to win five gold medal in a single Olympics. Phelps achieved the feat three different times, the AP reported.
Earlier, Dressler won the men’s 50-meter freestyle in an Olympic record 21.07 seconds, ESPN reported. It was Dressel’s third gold medal in individual events.
France’s Florent Manadou took the silver medal in 21.55, and Bruno Fratus of Brazil won the bronze in 21.57, the sports network reported.
While America held its collective breath during the 50m, so did Caeleb Dressel during the entire race.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 1, 2021
No breath, no problem for King Caeleb. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/K3Wb6rCX25
The previous Olympic record was 21.30 seconds, set in 2008 by Cesar Cielo of Brazil, USA Today reported. Cielo also holds the world record of 20.91, according to the newspaper.
Dressel won the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly events earlier this week and also took gold in the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
Dressel makes it four!
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 1, 2021
A fourth gold at #Tokyo2020 for #USA's Caeleb Dressel as he wins the men's 50m freestyle with an Olympic Record time of 21.07.@fina1908 #Swimming @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/mjnlsBZiQu
©2021 Cox Media Group