Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel fails to qualify for world championships

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Caeleb Dressel made it to the 50-meter butterfly final but again failed to qualify for the world championships, finishing third at the U.S. nationals on Wednesday night.

Dressel touched the wall in 23.35 seconds in the non-Olympic event, which he won at the last two worlds in 2019 and 2022. He finished behind winner Michael Andrew (23.11) and runner-up Dare Rose (23.20).

Still, it was an encouraging performance by Dressel, who is swimming in his first major meet since taking a lengthy break.

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Caeleb Dressel reacts after competing in the Mens 50 Meter Butterfly Final on day two of the Phillips 66 National Championships at Indiana University Natatorium on June 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

He has two more shots at making the U.S. team for next month's world championships at Fukuoka, Japan, having also entered the 100 fly and the 50 freestyle.

Other top swimmers are pulling for Dressel to qualify for the team.

"It would be awesome," said Ryan Murphy, who won the 200 backstroke on Wednesday. "He's a pretty magnetic personality. He really does help everyone around him."

Dressel finished 29th in the preliminaries of his first event at nationals, the 100 free. It was a stunning performance from a guy who won five golds medals at the Tokyo Olympics.

On the second night of nationals, the other winners were:

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Caeleb Dressel on the starting block before competing in the Mens 50m Butterfly final on day two of the Phillips 66 National Championships at