In 2022, Caeleb Dressel was burnt out. The pursuit of perfection that had led to world records and Olympic medals had a dark side. So, for close to a year, the swimmer took a break—he worked on becoming a better person, changing his relationship with the sport, and, most importantly, being happy. Now, with a new outlook on life, a newborn son, and the Paris Olympics in view, Dressel is back in the pool because he loves it.
GQ caught up with the seven-time gold medalist after he helped cut the ribbon cotton ceremony of the grand opening of his sponsor Omega’s new boutique in Tampa. He broke down what it was like to return to training after his break, his weakness for sweets, and how he structures his 3-a-day workouts.
For Real-Life Diet, GQ talks to athletes, celebrities, and other high performers about their diet, exercise routines, and pursuit of wellness. Keep in mind that what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.
GQ: Omega is a huge name in keeping time; how would you say your appreciation for time has changed since becoming a father?
Caeleb Dressel: Well, time was definitely a blur during some moments with Meghan’s pregnancy and certainly in the delivery room. There were moments that I could have sworn were a couple hours that were actually 15 minutes. I’ve been swimming since I was five and that’s one of the standards you’re judged upon—how quick you can do something. It’s a very unbiased, strategic, and precise measurement.
The birth of my son has given me a different perspective. I’m definitely behind the blocks with a different mindset. I’m no longer racing for myself. I know I have a different set of eyes that are looking at me now. It’s a pressure that I welcome.
What is it about this sport that drives you to push your body to limits?
I think you halfway answered it for me. It’s really just seeing how far I can take this. It’s not about trying to be trying to be the best…whatever—or trying to go the fastest. I just like to train, and every result I’ve ever gotten is just a by-product of the training that I do. It’s just seeing how far I can take this. I’ve learned a lot about myself in this sport. There are certainly some mental blocks. There are certainly challenges that come, not only yearly, but weekly and even daily.
Whether it’s with practice, weights, a nap or not getting enough sleep, or my diet. There’s constant ways and routes I can take to look and improve upon myself in this sport. There’s plenty of challenges that it offers, and I think that’s the main thing. I don’t want an easy sport because that gets boring after a while—swimming is certainly not that.
Swimming is definitely a sport where you get what you put in and to reach the heights you have takes a lot. How have you learned to manage all of that?
I think it is a completely fair sport—that’s one thing I love about it. There’s a first place, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth. You get your own lane. It’s a very individual sport. I know there are relays, but really, your head is under water, and you don’t get to talk to anybody. So it’s completely fair, and I love finding new ways to just keep pushing, and it changes every year. I think just looking for and welcoming those new challenges is what makes me want to stay in the sport, stay hungry and just keep going year after year. But, every day is certainly not easy and I think that’s the main thing—just welcoming those challenges and obstacles.
You recently took some time away from the sport. What did that do for you?
I had to see if this is something I wanted to continue to do. I was burnt out. There were some demons that I had created and some things that I needed to do differently in the sport. I needed to look at myself differently in the sport. I needed to welcome and appreciate myself more than just what the scoreboard said, and that was tough, man. I had done that for so many years and it was a tough transition. I was out of the water for nine months and I didn’t know if I was going to come back. I missed it a whole lot, but I wasn’t sure if this was something I wanted to continue to do because there are challenges with it.
