POLL: Would Dressel's Potential 7 Golds More Impressive Than Phelps' 8?

POLL: Would Dressel's Potential 7 Golds More Impressive Than Phelps' 8?

As we gear up for the 2020 Olympics, we have started to look back and wonder if it was possible to replicate Phelps' eight gold medals.

May 24, 2019 by Kyle Sockwell
POLL: Would Dressel's Potential 7 Golds More Impressive Than Phelps' 8?

Michael Phelps’ eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 is the most iconic performance in Olympic history, arguably one that put the sport of swimming on the map for millions of people across the globe and took the sport to a completely different level. 

As we gear up for the 2020 Olympics, we have started to look back and wonder if it was possible to replicate that performance, in the current state of the sport.

The best way to consider the sport’s progression would be to analyze the NCAA men’s 50 freestyle, so let’s not waste any time and get right into the data…

2007 Men’s NCAA Division I (FULL BODY ERA):

1- Cesar Cielo Filho - 18.69a

2- Matt Targett - 19.08

2- Ben Wildman-Tobriner - 19.08

2- Albert Subirats - 19.08

Note: 16th after prelims was a 19.62, which wouldn’t have qualified this year by nearly 0.2 seconds.

2012 Men’s NCAA Division I:

1- Jimmy Feigen - 19.01

2 - Vlad Morozov - 19.08

3- Jason Schnur - 19.46

Note: 16th after prelims was a ALSO a 19.62, which wouldn't have qualified in 2019 by nearly 0.2 seconds.

2018 Men’s NCAA Division I:

1- Caeleb Dressel - 17.63

2- Ryan Held - 18.64

3- Bowen Becker - 18.90

4- Pawel Sendyk - 18.94

5- Zach Apple - 18.97

5- Ryan Hoffer - 18.97

Note: 16th after prelims was a 19.20 and the time of 19.62 from 2012 and 2007 would’ve been T-38th after prelims.

The high-end depth takeaway from these stats are obvious and staggering, but not to be overshadowed are the simply insane progressions in depth. 

Looking forward to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, factoring in the depth at the U.S. Olympic Trials and the Olympic stage is necessary. With sport progression, however, comes the addition of new events like the mixed relays and stroke 50s. These events in particular play heavily into the favor of sprinters like Caeleb Dressel and it’s no secret…




We polled the swimming community as well to get their opinion as a whole and the results might be surprising…


All of the medal hype aside, it’s no question that Phelps kicked off the excitement and Dressel is keeping it alive along with help from names likes Ledecky, Peaty, and more. Just over a year away from the 2020 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and the anticipation for the meet and the Olympics to follow it are already high. 

Do you think seven gold medals in Tokyo would be possible for Dressel? Eight? Nine? Forty-seven? Come join the conversation on Twitter and add to the hype.