Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Swimming in Gold: Dressel Captures 8th Career Olympic Gold as US Relay Anchor
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 14 seconds ago on
July 28, 2024

The United States men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay team celebrates on the podium after winning the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP/Matthias Schrader)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NANTERRE, France — Caeleb Dressel touched the wall and shouted in triumph. He raised his fists and high-fived U.S. fans during a victory lap. Then, finally, he found his family and gave his wife and baby boy celebratory hugs and kisses.

Dressel only knows the top of an Olympic podium in a decorated career.

As the veteran on a youthful U.S. men’s swim team, Dressel added another relay victory to his long list Saturday night, anchoring the winning 4×100-meter freestyle foursome as the Americans beat out the rival Australians and scrutinized Chinese.

“Relays are a little more special to be honest,” Dressel said. “So doing it with these guys has been awesome. It takes me back to my first gold. It really doesn’t get old. Really special standing on the podium with these guys watching the flag go up. I’m extremely proud of them. It made my job easy.”

Yes, former Ohio State star Hunter Armstrong swam a sensational third leg — his split clocked in at 46.75 seconds — to set up Dressel’s grand finale sprint to the wall.

“I definitely didn’t expect it,” Armstrong said of seeing his time. “I just went in, I will give my entire body and soul up for these boys. I knew I had to give Caeleb everything I had, so I was glad I was able to get my job done.”

Dressel now has eight golds and five of those in relay events — plenty to celebrate less than a month before his 28th birthday on Aug. 16.

The Americans took a lap around Paris La Defense Arena offering high-fives with fans and hugs.

And Dressel quickly made his way to find wife Meghan and 5-month-old son August Wilder, finally spotting them and sprinting over for a hug and kiss before taking the baby in oversized headphones into his arms.

“It’s really special. Making the team in front of him and then winning a gold in front of him, just checking little boxes that I never would have thought to create throughout my career,” Dressel said. “So that was a really special one tonight.”

Ahead for Dressel: 100 Butterfly, 50 Freestyle.

Dressel will still try to defend his golds from the Tokyo Olympics in the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle. He also won the 100 free and 4×100 medley relay three years ago. Dressel captured golds in the two relays at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, too.

The emerging, younger American stars certainly could understand the magnitude of the moment Saturday. They also won the first U.S. gold of the Paris Games.

Jack Alexy and Chris Guiliano were the other two on the team thrilled to be part of Dressel’s amazing night after their 3-minute, 9.28-second finish — shy of the world record they’d so dearly sought.

“Truly honored to be part of this relay and watching Caeleb finish that off for us and making Team USA proud,” said Alexy, who swam the opening leg. “And starting off night one with a gold.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Swimming in Gold: Dressel Captures 8th Career Olympic Gold as US Relay Anchor

DON'T MISS

Strike from Lebanon Kills 12 Youths in Golan Heights. Is Israel-Hezbollah War Next?

DON'T MISS

The Unnerving Changeability of JD Vance

DON'T MISS

The Kamala Harris Report Card

DON'T MISS

Merced County Pistachio Farmer Still Reeling From Devastating Flood. ‘It’ll Probably Be a Decade Before We Recover.’

DON'T MISS

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ | Anatomy of a Scene

DON'T MISS

Jack Black, a Small Dog With a Big Heart, Is Looking for His Forever Home

DON'T MISS

Kamala Harris: A Baptist With a Jewish Husband and a Faith That Traces Back to MLK and Gandhi

DON'T MISS

What Italian Grandmothers Can Teach You About Healthy Eating

DON'T MISS

CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled

UP NEXT

Strike from Lebanon Kills 12 Youths in Golan Heights. Is Israel-Hezbollah War Next?

UP NEXT

The Unnerving Changeability of JD Vance

UP NEXT

The Kamala Harris Report Card

UP NEXT

Merced County Pistachio Farmer Still Reeling From Devastating Flood. ‘It’ll Probably Be a Decade Before We Recover.’

UP NEXT

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ | Anatomy of a Scene

UP NEXT

Jack Black, a Small Dog With a Big Heart, Is Looking for His Forever Home

UP NEXT

Kamala Harris: A Baptist With a Jewish Husband and a Faith That Traces Back to MLK and Gandhi

UP NEXT

What Italian Grandmothers Can Teach You About Healthy Eating

UP NEXT

Kern County Farmland Values Continue Downward Slide

UP NEXT

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

The Kamala Harris Report Card

3 hours ago

Merced County Pistachio Farmer Still Reeling From Devastating Flood. ‘It’ll Probably Be a Decade Before We Recover.’

6 hours ago

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ | Anatomy of a Scene

24 hours ago

Jack Black, a Small Dog With a Big Heart, Is Looking for His Forever Home

1 day ago

Kamala Harris: A Baptist With a Jewish Husband and a Faith That Traces Back to MLK and Gandhi

1 day ago

What Italian Grandmothers Can Teach You About Healthy Eating

1 day ago

CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled

1 day ago

Kern County Farmland Values Continue Downward Slide

1 day ago

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

2 days ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

2 days ago

Swimming in Gold: Dressel Captures 8th Career Olympic Gold as US Relay Anchor

15 seconds ago

16 seconds ago

Swimming in Gold: Dressel Captures 8th Career Olympic Gold as US Relay Anchor

17 mins ago

Strike from Lebanon Kills 12 Youths in Golan Heights. Is Israel-Hezbollah War Next?

2 hours ago

The Unnerving Changeability of JD Vance

3 hours ago

The Kamala Harris Report Card

6 hours ago

Merced County Pistachio Farmer Still Reeling From Devastating Flood. ‘It’ll Probably Be a Decade Before We Recover.’

24 hours ago

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ | Anatomy of a Scene

1 day ago

Jack Black, a Small Dog With a Big Heart, Is Looking for His Forever Home

1 day ago

Kamala Harris: A Baptist With a Jewish Husband and a Faith That Traces Back to MLK and Gandhi

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend