WATCH: Caeleb Dressel TORCHES 49.86 100m Butterfly, 0.04 Off Phelps' WR

Watch race video of Caeleb Dressel's 49.86 100m butterfly at the 2017 FINA World Championships. Dressel was only 0.04 away from Michael Phelps' world record time of 49.82 set in 2009.

Jul 29, 2017 by Maclin Simpson

WATCH: Caeleb Dressel TORCHES 49.86 100m Butterfly, 0.04 Off Phelps' WR

2017 FINA World Championships

July 23-30, 2017
Budapest, Hungary
Dagály Aquatics Arena
SCHEDULE
PSYCH SHEET
LIVE RESULTS

Men 100m Butterfly -- FINAL

World Record: 49.82 -- Michael Phelps (USA), 2009
Championship Record: 49.82 -- Michael Phelps (USA), 2009
World Junior Record: 50.62 -- Kristoff Milak (HUN), 2017
American Record: 49.82 -- Michael Phelps (USA), 2009

1.) Caeleb Dressel (USA) -- 49.86
2.) Kristoff Milak (HUN) -- 50.62 (World Junior Record)
3.) Joseph Schooling (SIN) -- 50.83
3.) James Guy (GBR) -- 50.83
5.) Laszlo Cseh (HUN) -- 50.92
6.) Zhuhao Li (CHN) -- 50.96
7.) Grant Irvine (AUS) -- 51.00
8.) Mehdy Metella (FRA) -- 51.16

We have officially run out of superlatives for Caeleb Dressel. Approximately 30 minutes after unloading a 21.15 50m freestyle for the gold medal, Dressel turned around to take on a loaded field in the 100m butterfly -- featuring the defending Olympic champion Joseph Schooling. Dressel did something very Phelps-esque tonight -- his presence alone elevated the game of the other competitors. The field knew the buzzsaw they were running into with Dressel and, subsequently, seven of the eight guys in the field turned sub-24 -- with Laszlo Cseh eighth in 24.01. They knew if they were to have a chance against him they would need to jump on it early. Dressel's first 50-meter split was 23.31 -- 0.05 under Phelps' WR pace. He was followed by Mehdy Metella of France in 23.62 and James Guy of Great Britain in 23.64.

But nobody could hang with Dressel coming home as he threw down a 26.55 closing split to scorch a 49.86 -- the second-fastest performance of all time and only 0.04 off Phelps' WR. That is also the fastest performance ever in a textile suit. Kristoff Milak of Hungary was extremely impressive as well on the back half with a split of 26.77 to claim silver in a new world junior record time of 50.62. Schooling and Guy rounded out the podium in a tie for bronze with matching 50.83's.

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