Swimming From Home Talk Show: Caeleb Dressel Challenges Himself to Say No

We are all trying to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic as best we can. Staying at home and not socializing is not an easy task for anyone, and keeping a swimmer out of the pool is equally antagonizing. Therefore, SwimSwam is starting the Swimming From Home Talk Show, where host Coleman Hodges speaks with the swimming community about how they’re coping with our current goggle-less reality.

Olympic and World Champ Caeleb Dressel took some time out of his busy day to let us know what he’s spending his quarantine doing. Dressel is one of the few who is still able to swim on a daily basis (as of when this interview was conducted) at a pool in a neighboring town, for which Dressel is grateful. But even though he might not be pushing it to the max in the pool, Dressel isn’t taking a break.

Training is Dressel’s favorite part of swimming; he loves the grind. So one thing he’s doing to challenge himself (besides doing “Core-intine workouts”) is challenging himself in numerous ways to say no. He’s seeing how disciplined he can be in numerous aspects of his life, from phone time to diet to sleep.

If you want to get to know a more personal side of Caeleb Dressel, check out his podcast with former Florida swimmer Ben Kennedy here.

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MTK
3 years ago

Great interview.

You can tell that Dressel, like a lot of greats, is not fueled by a desire to be in the spotlight and be famous, but by pure passion and a thirst to prove to himself that he can achieve amazing things.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  MTK
3 years ago

That’s pretty cool. And it’s such a positive vibe. It’s not the “I hate losing” mantra of so many other greats (Phelps being a classic example). It’s the “I love training, experimenting, and trying to get better” mantra.

Sunny Cal
3 years ago

Did I hear him correct in saying “I did not graduate from college”? – I thought he did???

remel can do anything
Reply to  Sunny Cal
3 years ago

still need 15 hours to get the degree.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  remel can do anything
3 years ago

Can Remel do 15 hours?

sven
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago

With enough pre-workout, he can do anything.

Kevin
Reply to  Sunny Cal
3 years ago

In a podcast he explained that he didn’t take his final semester of classes as it would get in the way of training for Tokyo.

sven
3 years ago

Caeleb Dressel seems to have one of the strongest mental games in the sport (up there with Adrian). Being a genetic freak helps in the pool or the weight room, but the perspective he approaches things with is one that will lead you to success in all aspects of life. If you approach things with discipline, flexibility, attention to detail, and an appreciation for challenges, you are going to get better. Doesn’t matter what the activity is. If you focus on becoming the kind of person who can do that, you will get better at swimming because your progress in swimming will be an expression of your personal growth.

gator
3 years ago

Glad to see current/future Olympians remaining in the pool swimming

Swimfan
Reply to  gator
3 years ago

Well… maybe a few. His quote of “we’re all in the same boat” is definitely NOT the case. Many if not most swimmers have no pool or gym to train in.

camelboar
3 years ago

This guy is going to be the GOAT. I truly believe that, but of course, we will have to see!

FLSwimmer
Reply to  camelboar
3 years ago

I just don’t think he will ever match the *long course* versatility that MP had. Nothing against Dressel… He is probably more dynamic and exciting to watch (mainly because of the events he swims) than MP, but I think MP’s versatility and dominance in so many events cements his GOAT status. Now if Dressel can find a way to start throwing down some world class 2 IM and 2 free times while still maintaining his status in the sprint free and fly events, then the GOAT discussion might be more up in the air. We just have to wait and see what Dressel does over the next couple Olympics in Tokyo, Paris, and LA. Or if Phelps makes a comeback… Read more »

Ghost
Reply to  FLSwimmer
3 years ago

More valuable on the relays?

FLSwimmer
Reply to  Ghost
3 years ago

This is a tough one. Dressel has yet to be an international factor on an 800 free relay, whereas Phelps was a go-to for US on that relay for many years. But with the addition of the mixed relays, Dressel may start to gain in terms of medal total on Phelps. When all is said and done, I think Dressel ends up with more relay medals than Phelps, but never has that star contribution to the 800 free relay that Phelps had.

Joe
Reply to  FLSwimmer
3 years ago

Not just world class 2 IM and 2 free. To merit Phelps comparisons, he needs world records.

Just like how MP made a giant step towards GOAThood with his 1:43.86 200 free, Dressel would need a 1:53 200 IM to enter the conversation.

That, or the madlad keeps on winning into his late 30s.

sven
Reply to  camelboar
3 years ago

Sprint GOAT, almost certainly. Short course GOAT, possibly. Still, with WRs from 100m-400m across multiple strokes and several very close misses*, there will always be a very compelling argument for Phelps as overall GOAT. He might approach Phelps’ medal count, but that’s with at least one new relay and the fact that four of his medals in one OG could come from one event (100 free.. and I know he’s more likely to swim fly on the medley, but even then that’s 5 golds from two events). Even if he does get on the 800 free relay and they win gold, will he ever dominate the event like Phelps did?

The guy is an all-time great, and he will… Read more »

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  sven
3 years ago

Mr. Popov would like to join the chat.

Sun Yangs Hammer
Reply to  sven
3 years ago

Beijing leadoff he got within 0.03 but Eamon Sullivan wrecked it before him. I think the comparisons to Phelps aren’t necessary or helpful. He’s his own swimmer and people should just enjoy it instead of comparing him to Michael.

sven
Reply to  Sun Yangs Hammer
3 years ago

I realize my post was pretty much doing exactly that, but I actually fully agree regarding comparisons. It’s just like the comparisons that Michael Andrew got as he was wrecking the NAG recordbook. They’re different people and different swimmers. Interestingly, both MA and CD had stretches where they struggled with the pressure that the public was putting on them (it almost drove Dressel out of the sport), and they’ve both talked about how their progression was stunted for a bit until they learned to separate their identity from their swim times.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  sven
3 years ago

Dressel still has to deliver at the Olympics and break a free WR to be considered the sprint GOAT. Reminder Popov has 4 individual sprint golds and broke the 50 and 100 WRs.

Mr Piano
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

Dressel has 46.96 and 21.04, which would be world records if it were not for polyurethane bodysuits

sven
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

Yeah, like I said, almost certainly. It hasn’t happened yet, and it’s okay if it doesn’t, but as of right now he’s on the right trajectory.

SVIRD
3 years ago

He should just taper, do a time trial for his main events to see some payoff for his season of training, and then take a break before starting back up the grind.

M L
Reply to  SVIRD
3 years ago

I’ve been wondering whether anybody is doing this, for the psychological benefits if nothing else.

Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago

This has to be the lowest ever comment number for a title with “Caeleb Dressel” in it. The man’s going through pre-workout withdrawal and only Coleman’s there to film it.

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago

At least for now he’s saying no to changing in the stall 🙂

Participant Ribbon
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago

Technically Coleman isn’t here filming it. See these young rascals are doing one of those remote video calls using something like Skype, Facetime or Zoom. 🙂

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Participant Ribbon
3 years ago

True — but gee, do those get posted somehow as a video recording on a separate website days later? I’m really too old if they can do that. smh

Participant Ribbon
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago

Haha, no I’m just giving you a hard time and I would be curious how he’s doing these. They could be recording these on one platform and then uploading to YouTube later or they could be live streaming directly to YouTube. Either way it’s pretty cool they have this ability given the current circumstances.

Sun Yangs Hammer
3 years ago

*With Ben Kennedy who’s at the UF law school. Although Lawless would be a better name for a lawyer

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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