Caeleb Dressel is an American professional swimmer. He specializes in freestyle, butterfly, and individual medley events. His good friend and teammate, Ryan Lochte, is also an American professional swimmer and a 12-time Olympic medalist. Considered the second most decorated swimmer in Olympic history, Lochte once made headlines for something else altogether.

In an interview more than 2 years ago, Caeleb Dressel discussed his fellow swimmer’s issue that he believes broke him emotionally. Speaking with Graham Bensinger, Dressel talked about Ryan Lochte and the lasting effect of the pandemic on him and other athletes.

Caeleb Dressel talks about Ryan Lochte’s mental health status

The pandemic made life rather strenuous back in 2020. Among those affected were also athletes. Speaking about the same, Caeleb Dressel got very upset while discussing his friend Ryan Lochte.

“Especially coming off of people not getting off his back for the Rio incident,” Dressel said and continued, “Um the IV thing like he went through a lot and then having his one last curveball thrown in I think, broke him.” 

Several controversies followed by the cancellation of the mega-quadrennial games in 2020 caused Lochte to have an emotional breakdown, as explained by Dressel.

“But yeah he would have made the team in 2020 for sure. I think he would have been really fast too,” Dressel said. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t have made it, anyway. As per Dressel, Lochte had a lot of potential in him. 

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The 2016 Rio Incident

2016 was a tough year for Ryan Lochte. During the Olympic games, the USA Swimming and the United States Olympic Committee suspended, Lochte. The suspension was a result of Lochte making an absurd claim about being robbed, which, when investigated, proved to be false.

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What do you think about the incident with Ryan Lochte? Do you think the suspension was justified or was it too harsh on him? Let us know in the comment section.