Caeleb Dressel’s Path to Rediscovering His Passion for Swimming

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Caeleb Dressel’s extraordinary seven-gold medal performance might paint a picture of an untroubled champion, but the reality of his swimming journey tells a different story. Despite his unparalleled success, Dressel has battled with the intense pressures of the sport.

Widely recognized as one of the top swimmers globally, Dressel holds the world record in the men’s 100-meter butterfly, a title he took from Michael Phelps in 2019 and then improved upon at the Tokyo Olympics, where he earned five gold medals. Yet, even these achievements could not shield him from dissatisfaction.

Dressel became consumed by perceived failures—whether it was a turn, the finish, or head position. Winning gold and helping Team USA dominate the medal count did little to quiet his inner critic. He sought perfection relentlessly, feeling that anything less was a personal failure.

“I created a monster inside of me, so caught up in perfectionism,” Dressel shared on the podcast “Unfiltered Waters” with former Olympians Missy Franklin and Katie Hoff. “So caught up in, ‘If I don’t see these times, I’m a bad person, or I didn’t train hard enough. If I don’t hit a world record, I didn’t obsess enough.’”

The sport that once brought him joy became a source of relentless pressure. Eventually, Dressel reached a breaking point, retiring abruptly during the 2022 World Championships in Budapest and stepping away from swimming for eight months.

During his hiatus in Gainesville, Florida, Dressel worked closely with his therapist and leaned on the support of his wife, Meghan. He avoided the pool and took time to rediscover himself beyond his athletic achievements. The journey involved reorienting his identity and finding joy outside the pool.

This period of self-reflection was challenging, yet crucial. Dressel, now 27 and a new father, acknowledges that the process of healing and growth is ongoing. He has returned to the sport with a different mindset, focusing on the aspects he enjoys and managing his perfectionist tendencies.

“It’s really tough,” Dressel told The Athletic. “It’s ingrained in me, where you always want to look for ways to get better. I’m still doing it, but I’m not getting so obsessed and fixated that I lose sight of what’s really fun about sports. It’s tough, and it’s not like I’ve suddenly gotten there this year. There are things I’m really proud of that I’ve done differently, like being able to enjoy parts of sports and not just beat myself up about not being perfect.”

Dressel’s comeback sees him competing in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly at the Paris Games, and likely participating in multiple relays. Although he missed qualifying for the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic trials, he remains positive and proud of his accomplishments, especially with his family by his side.

“No one can take that away from him,” Dressel said about his son, August, witnessing his trials performance. “He won’t remember it. I’ll tell him, trust me, I have pictures so I can prove it. … It was a really special moment. Meghan knows what goes into it, not just the parenting side of things, but she gets to see firsthand the challenges that come with sports.”

Dressel’s journey back to competitive swimming is marked by a newfound balance, one that allows him to appreciate the sport while keeping his inner critic at bay. His family, especially Meghan, has played a pivotal role in this transformation, supporting him through the highs and lows.

Parenthood has provided Dressel with a valuable perspective shift. It has taught him to prioritize moments of joy over the relentless pursuit of perfection. While he still pushes himself to excel, he does so with a healthier outlook.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever run my best time again, and that’s hard to say out loud. It really is,” Dressel admitted. “When you’re 19, 20, 21, you’re just chipping away, chipping away, chipping away. I’m still working harder than ever, finding every avenue I can to shave off those two tenths. But I don’t know. I don’t know if I can. I’m really good at running. If you put me in a race, I’m going to get close, as close as I can, even if I have to try to kill myself to get there. I’ll put myself in those situations.”

As Dressel prepares for Paris, he does so with a deeper understanding of himself and a greater appreciation for the sport. His training partner, Katie Ledecky, has noticed the positive changes, highlighting his renewed joy and dedication.

“He’s always had that smile,” Ledecky said. “He took that time and when he came back, he had that smile every day. Just to see his progress over the last year, how he’s gotten better and better with every meet, it seems like he just loves the race and he loves the training probably more than the race, and that makes everyone around him better.”

Dressel’s journey underscores the importance of mental health and the value of finding balance in the pursuit of excellence. His story is a testament to resilience and the power of self-discovery, proving that even the greatest athletes must nurture their well-being to achieve true success.

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