INDIANAPOLIS — Coming back from lengthy layoffs, American swimming stars Caeleb Dressel and Simone Manuel were eager to claim their first individual events of the Paris Olympics.
Instead, they had to settle for supporting roles.
Dressel finished third in the men’s 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic trials Wednesday night, while Manuel touched fourth in the women’s 100 free.
Only the top two will get to swim the events individually in Paris, but Dressel and Manuel will be part of the 4×100 freestyle relays.
“I think Paris is going to be a blast,” said Manuel, who has endured a long road back after being diagnosed with overtraining syndrome ahead of the Tokyo Games. “It’s a different spot than I’m used to right now with only being a relay swimmer. But it’s my third Olympic team, and that’s something that’s really hard to accomplish.”
Potential breakout star Kate Douglass claimed the victory and Torri Huske took the runner-up position, with Gretchen Walsh also finishing ahead of Manuel.
Dressel, the winner of five gold medals in Tokyo, won’t get a chance to defend his 100 freestyle title after reaching the wall behind Chris Guiliano and Jack Alexy.
“I’m trying to have fun, I am having fun,” Dressel told the crowd of 22,209 from the…
