By Hanna Barton | @Hannakbarton00
Sports Capital Journalism Program
INDIANAPOLIS — Leaving the pool deck Saturday night, Caeleb Dressel flashed the smile that has been seen frequently throughout the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and much of a career that has included seven Olympic gold medals. Dressel had just qualified for his third event in Paris with a first-place finish in the 100 butterfly, the event he won in Tokyo. He had previously qualified for the 50 freestyle and the 4×100 free relay.
While the thousands of swimming fans cheering from the stands in Lucas Oil Stadium have become used to that smile last week, Dressel says there are still unseen battles being fought beneath the exterior.
“There’s parts of this meet I’ve had some very low lows,” Dressel had said after his win in the 50-freestyle on Friday night. “There’s parts in my hotel room that aren’t on camera, talking with my wife and talking with my therapist. It has not been smooth sailing this whole week.”
Dressel notched a spot on his third Olympic team initially thanks to a third-place finish in the 100-freestyle that designates him as a relay swimmer. College stars Chris Guiliano and Jack Alexy took first and second in the event to punch tickets to their first Olympic Games.
Dressel has been open about his fight to get back to another Olympic games. In 2022, the 27-year-old took a nine-month hiatus from the pool, a decision he made in order to reevaluate his relationship with the sport and his mental health. Since the break, Dressel has gradually made his way back to the top of the USA Swimming ranks with a different approach than in years past. He credits his shift in perspective to the young Americans contending for the titles he once held.
“You know, I think probably early on in my career it was how long can I be dominant,” said Dressel. “And that’s still a little bit of my mindset, but I think it’s switching a little bit to what can I show this younger generation… what can I do to show them what they’re actually capable of?”
That desire to support the rising stars in the sport was put on display after Dressel’s win the 100-meter butterfly Saturday night. Moments after celebrating atop the lane-line, Dressel found the second-place finisher, Thomas Heilman. After pulling the 17-year-old into his lane, Dressel hoisted his arm in the air, celebrating the youngster securing his second Olympic event of the week.
“I just know what it felt like to make my first Olympic Team in 2016,” said Dressel of the gesture. “So, to see it on the faces of a lot of these super young kids… it’s so special, because I know what that feeling is.”
Dressel can now share those feelings with swimmers that have used his achievements as motivation to become Team USA teammates.
“Caeleb, he’s such a true inspiration,” said Guiliano. “I love everything that he represents and everything that he’s about. To be able to be on a team with Caeleb and these other guys here, it’s an honor.”
After the 100-freestyle, Dressel continued to elevate his performances each time he took to the pool. A win in the 50-freestyle on Friday night guaranteed him his first individual race for Paris, and he followed that up with a win in the 100-butterfly the next evening. Back in his role of leading Team USA, and with the chance to defend his Olympic titles, Dressel is striving to maintain the relationship with the sport that he took the time to mend.
“I’m working on it,” he said. “I’m trying to find those moments and then really relish in them. It’s just been fun. I really feel like I’m loving the sport.”
A huge factor in the joy Dressel has found in his swimming is getting to share his journey with his four-month-old son, August. The new dad was visibly emotional as embraced his wife, Meghan, and his son after making the team Wednesday evening.
“It’s really special,” Dressel remembered. “For the rest of my life I can say that my son got to watch me make the Olympic team. That’s something no one can take away from me.”
After officially concluding his Olympic Trials Saturday evening, Dressel now shifts his focus to Paris. The sprinter is set to compete in the 50-freestyle, 100-butterfly, 4×100-freestyle relay, and potentially the 4×100-medley relay next month. With his new perspective, his role as dad, and a personal investment in the next generation, the veteran is as hungry as ever to add to the medal count of Team USA.
“I’ve been progressing great from last year to this point,” said Dressel. “I’m going to keep it rolling and then get faster in Paris and then go from there.”
