As time has passed, the perception of Caeleb Dressel’s story at the US Open swimming has evolved. Initially, Caeleb donned the Florida Gators’ colors at the US Open Swimming championship, emerging as a favorite in the game. His dominance was evident after securing numerous Olympic and international gold medals. However, since 2022, several circumstances have unfolded differently for Caeleb Dressel.

After the 2022 World Championship, Caeleb Dressel was not a regular sight in international events. Some back-to-back failures this year have also worked against him. However, those rock bottoms couldn’t hold Caleb Dressel from taking part in the 2023 US Open Swimming Championship. His recent form might result in him differently. 

Caeleb Dressel’s journey before the 2023 US Open Swimming

Recently in a podcast with SwimSwam, the host described Caeleb Dressel as “the man with a hundred percent batting average at the Olympic play”. In his reply, the 27-year-old swimmer just smiled back. In the same interview, he added, “I love getting in the water, I love training”. Possibly, this ‘love’ has driven Caeleb to establish himself as a role model to the generations. His first Olympic fame came in 2016, with Michael Phelps. Later in 2017, he earned a record 7 gold medals in the World Championship. In the 2020 Olympics, Caeleb bagged 5 gold medals. 

However, in 2022 he touched rock bottom. He backed out from the Budapest World Championship, citing his mental health issues. In the next 8 months, Caeleb couldn’t have a chance to make his tryst with his ‘love’, swimming again. He explained the situation as, “I missed every part of it… And that’s how I knew I was ready to get back. Because I didn’t need to — I wanted to.” 

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This year, he made some appearances in the national championships. However, his clockings were not enough to give him a position in the World Championship team for Fukuoka. 

The possibility of the Paris Olympics

Caeleb Dressel’s Olympic hope is hanging on his performance in the upcoming US Open. Before that, he appeared in a national meet against Virginia. His comeback there in the last leg showed his past touch. Caeleb’s Florida Gator coach, Anthony Nesty, has remained hopeful of Caeleb’s chances. 

Read more: Caeleb Dressel Gets a New American Rival as He Makes a Perfect 51.66 Finish Over Australians at Swimming World Cup 2023

Focusing on mental health, Nesty has talked about Caeleb’s aspirations and the challenges he has faced in the recent past. He has explained the former Olympic champion’s current situation to a news agency as, “mentally, he’s right where he needs to be.”  

Caeleb Dressel himself has sounded confident before taking up swimming encounters again. He claimed, “I haven’t had that enjoyment for quite some time, so it was nice being back,… If I can have the mindset I had at this meet going into next year and year’s after this, I’ve got a very long, very successful rest of my career in front of me.” This would boost his fans and the swimming community in the meantime. 

Watch this story: Simone Biles’ Beyond Twisties: The Untold Story Behind Her Mental Health Advocacy