8 things to know about U.S. Olympic swimming star Caleb Dressel
Golden moment
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Caleb Dressel provided thrills and emotions in Tokyo Thursday as he won the 100-meter freestyle by .06. The goosebumps came afterward when NBC showed the reaction of his family. Then, things got teary-eyed as Dressel was able to speak to his wife and family. Who is Caleb Dressel? Let's take a closer look at this Olympic champ...
All in the pool
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
He has three siblings, Kaitlyn, Tyler, and Sherridon, all of whom are competitive swimmers.
Record machine
(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
The Florida-born 23-year-old swims freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly. Dressel is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and currently holds the world records in the 100-meter butterfly (both long course and short course), 50-meter freestyle (short course), and 100-meter individual medley (short course).
A golden debut at the 2016 Summer Olympics
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At the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Dressel won his first gold medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. In the final, he swam the lead-off leg in 48.10 (the second-fastest opening leg in the field), and was followed by teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Held and Nathan Adrian. The American team recorded a time of 3:09.92.
Star of the show
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Dressel started a YouTube channel in 2011 and began posting videos to his channel deconstructing some of his past swims in July 2020. In the first video, he analyzed his swim setting a world record in the 100-meter butterfly. Leading up to the 2020 Summer Olympics, he ventured into analyses of swimming in pop culture. Dressel provided his perspective to GQ Magazine on swimming scenes from various movies, including scenes featuring survival swimming (such as in "Cast Away" and "Kingsman: The Secret Service") and competitive swimming (as in "Pride").
Florida Gators all-time legend
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
His accomplishments at the NCAA are unreal, especially these three: - 28-Time All-American Selection (which is the most that can be achieved in a four-year career). - 10-time NCAA Champion. That's the most in Gators history. - He became the first swimmer to break 18 seconds in the 50 free. Not once, but twice—on the same day at the NCAA Championships.
Dressel's ink
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Caeleb Dressel has become known for his tattoos, which he has been adding to and changing since 2015.
Caeleb Dressel's words: His Mission
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As written on Calebdressel.com:
I will strive to be a better, wiser man than I was yesterday. Never will I be complacent and I will always challenge myself. I appreciate any obstacle, knowing it will make me stronger. I take pride in my craft and will continue to master it. I set my own standard and compare myself to no one. I know my habits define me and I will make good works of them. I am aware the only thing I control in my life are my thoughts and my choices, not my circumstances. I will live in the moment. I see the world as a beautiful place where happiness is only real when shared. Materials are nothing. I am neither above nor beneath any human. Above all, I will be loving of all people regardless of race, religion, political view, gender, sexuality, opinion, appearance, or situation.
My purpose on this earth is to leave a room brighter than I found it. I will inspire people to be happy and hopeful in the person they are capable of becoming. My ultimate goal in this is to not reach the world but just one person. I will show people, although we are different, greatness is within us all.
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