Dressel and Walsh Shine at US Swimming Championships

WHO:

France 24 - Caeleb Dressel, Gretchen Walsh, Quintin McCarty, Kate Douglass, Ryan Erisman, Maximus Williamson

Yahoo Sports - Caeleb Dressel, Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass, Ryan Erisman, Maximus Williamson

WHAT:

France 24 - Dressel won the 50m freestyle title with a time of 21.35 seconds, four-tenths of a second faster than runner-up Quintin McCarty.

France 24 - Dressel also won the 100m freestyle, marking his first major victory since the 2024 Olympic trials.

France 24 - Walsh won the 50m freestyle in 23.60 seconds, just outside her world record of 23.55 seconds.

Yahoo Sports - Walsh's time of 23.60 seconds is the third-fastest in history.

Yahoo Sports - Dressel's time of 21.35 seconds is his best in four years.

Yahoo Sports - Ryan Erisman won the 800m freestyle in 7:43.53, becoming the second-fastest American in history.

Yahoo Sports - Maximus Williamson won the men's 200m individual medley title with a time of 1:56.40, making him the second-fastest American teen in history.

WHERE:

France 24 - The events took place in Irvine, California.

Yahoo Sports - The Pan Pacific Championships will also be held in Irvine.

WHEN:

France 24 - The Pan Pacific Championships are scheduled to occur in two weeks.

Yahoo Sports - The Pan Pacific Championships are set for August.

WHY:

France 24 - Walsh stated that her performance was a great tune-up for the upcoming Pan Pacific Championships.

Yahoo Sports - Dressel expressed enthusiasm about the state of his swimming after taking a break post-2024 Olympics.

HOW:

France 24 - Dressel's victories were achieved after a break from the sport following the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Yahoo Sports - The Pan Pacs roster was determined based on top times from the previous summer.

(UPDATED August 2, 2026 09:54 UTC)

In a stunning display at the swimming events in Irvine, California, Caeleb Dressel clinched the 50m freestyle title with a time of 21.35 seconds, outpacing runner-up Quintin McCarty, and also secured victory in the 100m freestyle, marking his first major win since the 2024 Olympic trials. Gretchen Walsh shone as well, winning the 50m freestyle in 23.60 seconds, which is the third-fastest time in history and just shy of her world record, while Ryan Erisman became the second-fastest American in history with his 800m freestyle win, and Maximus Williamson took the men's 200m individual medley title. The Pan Pacific Championships are set to take place in Irvine in two weeks, and both Dressel and Walsh expressed excitement about their performances as they prepare for this major event.