USA's Caeleb Dressel Breaks Michael Phelps' Record with 8 Medals at Worlds

Michael Phelps may be the most decorated Olympian of all-time, but he no longer holds the record for the most medals at a single swimming World Championships.

According to ESPN.com, American Caeleb Dressel set the record when he won his eighth medal of the 2019 Worlds in Gwangju, South Korea, on Sunday when the United States finished in second place in the 4x100-meter medley relay.

"Part of me is very happy," Dressel said. "Part of me wants to cry that I'm done with it. I've got pimples on my face from just the stress of the meet. I'm probably losing some hair."

Fittingly, Dressel moved the United States from fourth to first during the relay with a butterfly split of 49.28 seconds, but Britain ultimately took home gold when it chased down anchor Nathan Adrian in the final stretch.

Records at World Championships are nothing new for Dressel. The ESPN report noted he tied Phelps' record of seven golds during the 2017 Worlds in Hungary and became the first swimmer to take home three gold medals in a single night for the second time in this year's edition.

He won gold medals in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 butterfly, 100 butterfly, mixed 4x100 free relay and 4x100 free relay, while winning silver in the mixed 4x100 medley relay and Sunday's race.

Dressel also beat Phelps' record in the 100 butterfly with a time of 49.50 seconds.

His ability to thrive in a number of different events underscores his versatility leading into what promises to be a memorable 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Dressel is a two-time Olympic gold medalist thanks to his 2016 efforts in Rio de Janeiro and has a long way to go to catch Phelps' record of 28 medals. The 22-year-old may never reach that mark, but he let the world know he is already one of the best swimmers in history with his head-turning performance in South Korea.