Caeleb Dressel of the US was visibly emotional on camera after missing the Olympic final of the men’s 100 butterfly. Dressel was shown for several minutes crying and hugging Dr. Katie Edenfield after the race in a moment of humanity for one of the most decorated Olympians in history.
Edenfield has been a team physician with USA Swimming since 2021. She is based out of the University of Florida, where Dressel attended college and currently trains at under coach Anthony Nesty. She is board certified in Family Medicine and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine. She is a clinical associate professor in Florida’s Department of Community Health & Family Medicine.
She has been part of the USA Swimming staff at the World Junior Championships, Pan American Games, and World Championships.
She is also a team physician for the athletics department at the University of Florida, where Dressel has trained since 2014.
After several minutes of Edenfield and Dressel hugging and talking, Lindsay Mintenko, the National Team Director of USA Swimming walks over and moves them to an area out of sight of the camera.
Dressel smiled upon originally seeing his time. The smiles eventually turned into tears as he and Edenfield hugged while Dressel was able to cry openly.
Edenfield said this in an interview last week with Med Page Today about her experiences with mental health:
Personally, I am a primary care physician so I have a good amount of training and experience with mental health. I make sure to check in with my athletes and connect them to resources that can help with whatever needs they have. USA Swimming employs a clinician as manager of Mental Health and Emotional Wellness whom (sic) serves as a valued resource to all of the USA Swimming Junior National Team and National Team athletes.
The US Olympic medical staff also includes mental health professionals.
Dressel’s return from the 2022 World Championships is still noteworthy as well as his emotion today. Dressel withdrew from competition in the middle of the 2022 World Championships due to medical reasons and did not compete in the 100 butterfly there. “I knew I was in a spot where it wasn’t healthy,” Dressel said back in May of this year. “I got to that point where I was like if I don’t break a World Record at whatever event, then my career is a waste.”
Dressel swam a time of a 51.57 for 13th in the men’s 100 butterfly. It took a 51.08 to earn spot in finals, a time that Dressel was notably under in prelims as he swam a 50.83 this morning. He notably had the final of the 50 freestyle about 30 minutes before he swam in the first semifinal of the men’s 100 butterfly.
His prelims time of a 50.83 was his 3rd fastest 100 butterfly since returning to competition in May 2023. He was faster at US Trials with a 50.19 in finals and a 50.79 in semifinals. He also placed 6th earlier in the session in the 50 free final.
Dressel has 8 Olympic medals, all gold, including a gold earlier this week as part of the American 400 free relay. He has a chance for another medal on Saturday in the American mixed medley relay, although he won’t actually be swimming. He anchored the prelims relay on Friday morning, and he will collect a medal if the finals group finishes in the top three on Saturday – where they are expected to do so.
Dressel is also expected to swim a leg of the American men’s 400 medley relay to conclude the meet on Sunday.
Bottom line – Dressel didn’t do the work needed to complete at these Olympic Games. Stop looking for excuses.
Idk why everyone hating here… it’s true. But he focused on mental health and for long term that’s what’s important. He just wasn’t physically here
I can not believe that NBC broadcasted images of Caeleb Dressel crying uncontrollably for the whole world to see! Is there no respect for human dignity left in the world? The man has been open about his mental health struggles; I thought we were all trying to understand the pressure these athletes are under to succeed! I guess NBC didn’t get that memo. I hope this doesn’t set Caeleb’s recovery back too much.
Absolutely a disgrace for NBC to air that. Perhaps they should show the medal award ceremonies instead, I haven’t seen a single one at this Olympics.
NBC didn’t get the memo it wasn’t supposed to report what was happening to perhaps the most famous active male American swimmer?
You don’t really understand the media if you don’t get why they showed that.
He just like me fr
Hate to see it, but its his own fault. Im sorry, but this generational talent needs some tough love. Either retire and enjoy your family or do what you need to get back to it. I cant feel sorry for him or other athletes that complain about the pressure and needing a break. They make good money to train several hours a day. Go and tell the millions upon millions of people working multiple jobs to make ends meet for their families what real pressure is
Anyone with an ounce of empathy in their hearts obviously feels for Dressel after that outpouring of emotion. The camera stayed on him too long and we all know that was a low class ‘business decision’ by NBC to increase the drama. That being said, as a coach, I am not surprised by Dressel’s results. Every competition has its athletes who are behind in their training/development/overall readiness for one reason or the other.
He did what he had to do to get his mind right when he left worlds and took a break and I respected him for having the courage to do it. However, all the decisions we make in our lives come with a mixed bag of… Read more »
Very well said. I think most of us know that there is no bigger critic of Caeleb than Caeleb, and he probably knows deep down that the base of training just wasn’t there for this quad. I hope he doesn’t beat himself up about it, but instead learns from it and applies those lessons to whatever he does next (hopefully LA28).
It reminds me a little bit of what Phelps experienced in London, only to emerge as a new and improved version of himself in Rio.
Like the US female tennis players, US male swimmers are coming across as really sore losers…
Because he was sad? Please…
I don’t think you know what “sore loser” means.
Hopefully Caleb will carry on with swimming! He is a rare talent :).
Just my opinion, but I don’t want him to carry on with swimming. I would like to see him dedicate himself to his family going forward. I am not sure if swimming puts him in a good place. There are other things more important.
I’m reminded that SwimSwam is a news outlet that needs to generate clicks every time an article like this is posted. Shades of the Hungarian media outlets with Milak. Be better, SwimSwam.
This is a relatable story, for every swimmer who’s smiled and been gracious though after poor performance, but then dealt with the aftermath. Excuse him for caring and being human, I guess.