2021 TOKYO OLYMPICS

Caeleb Dressel joins elite club with 5th Olympic gold medal

Jul 31, 2021, 8:24 PM | Updated: 8:24 pm

Caeleb Dressel, of United States, celebrates winning the gold medal the men's 50-meter freestyle fi...

Caeleb Dressel, of United States, celebrates winning the gold medal the men's 50-meter freestyle final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

TOKYO — Make it five for Caeleb Dressel.

The American star won his fifth gold medal of the Tokyo Games, finishing off one of the great performances in Olympic history. He joins an elite club of just four other swimmers ever with at least five gold medals at one games.

Dressel swam the butterfly leg as the Americans set a world record in the 4×100-meter medley relay with a time of 3 minutes, 26.78 seconds — eclipsing the mark of 3:27.28 they set at the 2009 Rome world championships in rubberized suits.

Ryan Murphy, Michael Andrew and Zach Apple joined Dressel on the winning team, ensuring the Americans closed out the swimming competition with another gold in a race they’ve never lost at the Olympics.

Earlier in the session, Dressel won the 50 freestyle for his third individual title of the games. He also won two golds on the relays.

Dressel starred at the pool with Australia’s Emma McKeon, who won two more golds Sunday to push her overall total to seven — four gold and three bronze.

Mirroring Dressel’s final day, McKeon won the 50 free and took the butterfly leg on the Aussies’ winning 4×100 medley relay team on the women’s side.

McKeon became the first female swimmer to win seven medals at a single games. The only men to do it are Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi.

2021 Tokyo Olympics

Associated Press

Finland beats Russians for its 1st Olympic hockey gold medal

The Finns knocked off the favored Russians 2-1 Sunday to win the men's hockey tournament without NHL players at the Beijing Games

2 years ago

Tom Kuebel

Suns’ center JaVale McGee reveals how he was added to Team USA

New Suns center JaVale McGee did not have the typical NBA offseason, winning a gold medal in the Tokyo Games as a late addition to Team USA.

3 years ago

SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 08: Team United States pose for photographs with their gold medals during t...

Sam Graveline

Team USA women’s basketball shows off new gold medals

After the USA women's basketball team won their seventh straight Olympic gold, the ladies showed off their new bling at the medal ceremony.

3 years ago

(Twitter Photo/@USAbasketball)...

Associated Press

Mercury’s Taurasi, Griner lead USA women’s basketball to 7th straight gold

Brittney Griner finished with 30 points -- the most in a gold medal game in women's Olympics history -- making 14 of her 18 shots.

3 years ago

Nando de Colo #12 of Team France looks to pass the ball asDevin Booker #15 of Team United States de...

Kellan Olson

Devin Booker wins Olympic gold medal, Kevin Durant leads USA over France

Devin Booker achieved one of his ultimate goals this summer, winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA.

3 years ago

Simone Biles, of the United States, sits on the mat with teammate Sunisa Lee during the warm up pri...

Associated Press

No team gold, but U.S. women show depth during Tokyo stay

The U.S. women medaled in every final, the only program — men's or women's — in the meet to do that at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.

3 years ago

Caeleb Dressel joins elite club with 5th Olympic gold medal