As noted earlier by Brazilian swim coach Alex Pussieldi, seven-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel is reportedly back in the water training again. Per Pussieldi’s report, news of Dressel’s training was confirmed at last weekend’s TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was seen practicing with Florida head coach Anthony Nesty’s training group at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center. However, Dressel was not entered in or swimming at the actual Pro Swim Series meet.
In addition, Pussieldi’s report aligns with what sources have told SwimSwam about Dressel training.
Also this weekend, Dressel was at Speedo photoshoot in Fort Lauderdale. Speedo posted a photo on Instagram with Dressel alongside swimmers Kieran Smith and Ryan Murphy.
Dressel has not swum at a formal competition since the 2022 World Championships in June 2022, where he withdrew mid-meet due to non-COVID medical reasons. In addition, he was also absent from multiple high-profile award shows where he had received nominations, such as the 2022 ESPY awards in July 2022 where he won “Best Male Olympian”, as well as the 2022 Golden Goggle awards in November 2022 where he was nominated for the “Best Relay” award for his win in the 4×100 free relay at Worlds alongside Brooks Curry, Justin Ress, and Ryan Held.
In September 2022, Dressel made a post on Instagram stating that he hadn’t swum since Worlds. “I know I can have swimming and happiness. I had them both at one point in my life and I’m working on it. If you need a break, take one,” he said in that Instagram post. “I’ll be back.”
Dressel has continued to be fairly quiet on social media other than brand posts. On Monday however, he posted a story showing that he was reading “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less” by Greg McKeown, a book detailing how to become less overwhelmed while prioritizing what’s important.
Whether Dressel is competing or not at the Westmont Pro Series in mid-April or the Mission Viejo Pro Series in mid-May could be more indicative of his status for the 2023 U.S. Nationals meet running from June 27 to July 1, 2023. Nationals serves as the qualifying meet for the 2023 U.S. World Championships team.
Just wishin him the absolute best! Go Caeleb!!!
For me He takes a long break for a Pro Swimmer it should be very very difficult for him to acchieve again high level swim marks; unfortunately, i could say almost impossible to get high levels times and wins!! Phelps said in his book during five years he didn t lost one trainning day! For me Caeleb Dressel didnt have a strong mentaly support to help him! Lets see what comes in the next months! It will be a very tuff journey for him to get to the top swimmers in the world again.
Plot twist:
Caeleb Remel Dressel is training with Steve Jungbluth, Coley Stickels, and Teri in an all new pro group
Feel like he and Teri should start a group together. He could use some tough love
Training under Greg Troy wasn’t a cake walk mentally from what I’ve heard
Plot twist: Dressel has been secretly training with Lopez at VT to recapture the magic of his Bolles days and is planning to launch an epic 6+ year improvement streak a la his first time around, but this time using his current times as the base instead of his Bolles times.
I’m actually not sure if that would go well or not. It didn’t really work for Schooling, but it did kind of work for Condorelli to make a last-ditch Tokyo Olympic berth and go the fastest he had been since Rio.
Rekindling the Bolles magic would be with Jason at A&M
Who else saw the first two lines of the headline:
“SOURCES: SEVEN-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST CAELEB DRESSEL”
And filled in RETIRED in your head? Just me?
Could have gone either way. But I’m glad he’s back in the pool and I hope he does have happiness with both.
The Return of The King
swim for yourself….not for others……