With Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte absent, the superstars at the world swimming championships clearly lie on the women’s side.
But the men’s events will include world-record chasers, a stinging rivalry and, perhaps, the emergence of Phelps and Lochte’s successor as leading U.S. man.
Caeleb Dressel came through in Rio under arguably the most pressure of any swimmer, starting off the U.S. 4x100m freestyle relay team in his very first Olympic splash with a personal-best time.
Dressel, a 20-year-old who nearly quit swimming three years ago as the No.