Dressel Chases First Individual Gold in Showcase 100m Freestyle Race

Caeleb Dressel of the United States in action at the Men's 100m Freestyle semifinal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo, Japan, on July 28, 2021. Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

TOKYO—U.S. swimmer Caeleb Dressel will be going for the first individual Olympic gold of his multi-medal career in Thursday’s showcase 100m freestyle, with the world record possibly in reach.

Little can be taken for granted in a Tokyo Games that have already provided plenty of shocks and surprises, but the race should certainly live up to its billing for speed and excitement.