Caeleb Dressel: The Two Sides of an Olympic Champion

Swimming's Enigma

Caeleb Dressel, the inked-up Olympic star who in 2022 became his sport's greatest enigma, will get the chance to defend at least one of his seven Olympic gold medals in the upcoming 2024 Paris Games.

The Fun-Loving Competitor

Outside of competition, Dressel cuts a decidedly fun figure. He is known for his infectious personality and his love of tattoos. On social media, he often posts photos of himself with his wife and daughter, or goofing around with his teammates.

Mental Health Advocate

After taking a break from swimming for mental health reasons, Dressel returned to competition in the 2023 U.S. National Championships, where he won four gold medals.

Olympic Legacy

It is unlikely that any swimmer will ever surpass Michael Phelps' astonishing record of 23 Olympic gold medals, but Dressel looks like the swimmer most likely to come close. He is still only 27 years old and has already won 14 Olympic medals, including seven golds. With two more Olympic Games ahead of him, Dressel has the potential to become one of the greatest swimmers of all time.