Caeleb Dressel is an American professional swimmer born in 1996 in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Nicknamed a "prodigy" for his early talent, Dressel was splashing around by age four and achieving times that rivaled local high schoolers by nine.
Dressel specializes in freestyle, butterfly, and individual medley events. His impressive list of accomplishments includes seven Olympic gold medals, a record-breaking five of which he secured at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
He's not just an Olympic champion; Dressel holds multiple world records in both short-course and long-course events and has won a considerable amount of World Championships and NCAA titles.
Caeleb Dressel’s Olympic Medals Wins
Caeleb Dressel has participated in two Olympic Games to date: the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
In Rio 2016, Dressel secured two gold medals in relay events. However, it was at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where he won five gold medals and set multiple Olympic and world records.
| Olympic Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 2016 Rio | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 Tokyo | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Also Read:Caeleb Dressel School
Caeleb Dressel’s Medals Breakdown
World Championships
At the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, he won seven gold medals, tying Michael Phelps' record for most golds at a single World Championships.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Pan Pacific Championships
| Event | Medal |
| 100m butterfly | Gold |
| 4x100m medley relay | Gold |
| 50m freestyle | Silver |
| 100m freestyle | Silver |
| 4x100m mixed medley | Bronze |
Caeleb Dressel’s Record & Achievements
World Records:
100m butterfly: 49.45 seconds (2021 Tokyo Olympics)
4x100m medley relay: 3:26.78 (2021 Tokyo Olympics)
Olympic Records:
50m freestyle: 21.07 seconds (2021 Tokyo Olympics)
100m freestyle: 47.02 seconds (2021 Tokyo Olympics)
Other achievements:
First swimmer to win gold medals in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 100m butterfly at the same Olympics.
Fifth American to win five gold medals in a single Olympic Games, joining Mark Spitz, Michael Phelps, Eric Heiden, and Matt Biondi.
Holds multiple world records in short course meters events.
Caeleb Dressel’s Olympic Journey
Dressel's path to Olympic victory began well before his first Games appearance. In 2012, at just 15 years old, he competed in the US Olympic Trials but did not qualify for the team.
In 2013, Dressel won six medals at the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, including gold in the 100m freestyle with a championship record.
From 2015 to 2018, Dressel dominated college swimming at the University of Florida, breaking numerous NCAA records. These years were crucial in developing his skills and preparing him for the international stage.
The 2016 Rio Olympics marked Dressel's debut on the Olympic stage. While he won two relay gold medals, his sixth-place finish in the 100m freestyle individual event showed he had room for improvement.
Between 2017 and 2019, Dressel continued to win at international competitions, winning multiple World Championship titles and setting world records.
At the 2020 US Olympic Trials (held in 2021), Dressel qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in three individual events and two relays.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) was where Dressel’s expertise came forward with five gold medals and multiple record-breaking performances, he became one of the faces of the Games.
Also Read: Caeleb Dressel Coach
FAQ's On Caeleb Dressel’s Medals
A. Caeleb Dressel has a collection of 21 World Championship medals, including 15 golds in long-course events and 6 in short-course competitions.
A. Dressel has surpassed some of Phelps' achievements, including breaking Phelps' 100m butterfly world record and earning more medals in a single World Championships.
A. Yes, Dressel not only participated in the Olympics but won, winning five gold medals at the Tokyo Games and qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team by winning the 100m butterfly at the trials.
A. Dressel made history as the first swimmer under 19 to break the 19-second barrier in the 50m freestyle. By his high school graduation, he had broken seven national high school swimming records.
