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.
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 »
Like the US female tennis players, US male swimmers are coming across as really sore losers…
Because he was sad? Please…
Hopefully Caleb will carry on with swimming! He is a rare talent :).
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.
My heart breaks for Caeleb. Him being happy and in a good mental state will always be more important than a time or a finish. He’s still a champion in all our hearts ❤️
Shouldn’t be surprised NBC does this for drama ratings. Remember Lydia Jacoby at trials
Why does everyone think Caeleb shouldn’t have been seen crying?
Everyone who only sees numbers (how many golds, by what age, what time, what records, etc.) can’t understand that this guy is a living, flesh-and-blood person with struggles, emotions, and they are real.
Stop being a hypocrite!
Literally who said that 💀
Team USA really needs to get rid of mental health coaches. It’s not helping.
I think you should study up on the concept of cause and effect.