10-time Olympic medalist Caeleb Dressel has revamped his YouTube channel, much to the delight of his 51,000 subscribers. Known for his record-breaking performances in the pool, Dressel’s return to content creation marks a new chapter in his career. This time, he’s not just showcasing his own prowess but sharing actionable insights to help swimmers of all levels refine their skills.
But that’s not all. Alongside fellow pro swimmer Drew Loy, Dressel has launched Swim Academy, a platform that offers structured video programs and one-on-one coaching from elite athletes like himself. It’s a deep dive into the kind of training that makes Olympic dreams come true, but now it’s accessible to anyone who wants to learn.
This falls in line with Dressel being a self-proclaimed swim nerd who is deeply passionate about the sport and its growth. He has been open about trying to remove the financial barrier of swim education, and his YouTube channel and Swim Academy are certainly steps in the right direction.
“Perfect Starts”: A Masterclass in Breaking the Water
Anyone who has watched Caeleb Dressel in action has probably wondered what exactly gives him that edge, the secret that allows him to explode off the blocks and hit 15 meters before anyone else in the world. In one of his latest videos, “Perfect Starts,” Dressel breaks it all down in just 10 minutes. It’s already racked up 138,000 views – and for good reason.
The video begins with what Dressel calls “Step Zero”, getting your pre-race routine down to a science. Whether it’s a series of jumps, arm swings, or another personal ritual, consistency is key. Next, Dressel moves into block positioning, sharing insights on everything from foot placement to the ideal posture for a powerful launch. His advice: keep your hips high, arms relaxed, and focus sharp.
To reinforce these lessons, Dressel introduces three game-changing drills: Donkey Kicks to refine leg positioning, Medicine Ball Throws to synchronize arm-leg coordination, and Standing Jumps to perfect clean water entry. His philosophy is simple: mastery takes time, but small, consistent efforts, what he calls “pennies in the piggy bank”, add up to a “million-dollar start.”
A Long-Awaited Return for Dressel Fans
For longtime fans, Dressel’s YouTube revival feels like a long time coming. His previous series, “Dressel Dissects,” gained popularity for its detailed breakdowns of his record-setting swims. While those videos were deleted during his mental health break, Dressel is back with a fresh approach that’s even more polished, insightful, and accessible.
As part of this new focus, Dressel includes content like a core workout with Ryan Lochte, aptly titled “Gold Medal Abs,” guaranteed to set your core on fire. Following the excitement of Short Course Worlds, anyone looking to improve their underwater skills should check out his latest video, “How to Swim Underwater.”
Really good first few videos.
One thing that goes really under the radar in terms of impact on younger swimmers today and how much they seem to have leveled up the game, is the ability for any kid to get these extremely detailed breakdowns of strokes and ideas. Not just this channel obviously but across all platforms. Even TikTok has an incredible amount of content related to drills, technique breakdowns, etc. If any kid wants to get better there is just a plethora of info for them to gobble up and I think it’s made a difference for sure
His videos don’t have any audio for me? Judging by the comments it’s a common problem
Stop judging.
It’s education