Caeleb Dressel’s Tattoos

Born on August 16, 1996, Caeleb Remel Dressel emerged as a distinguished American swimmer excelling in the realms of freestyle, butterfly, and medley swimming events. A key player for the Cali Condors in the International Swimming League, Dressel's prowess knows no bounds.

The heavily-inked athlete achieved a record-breaking feat at the 2017 World Championship in Budapest with an impressive haul of seven gold medals. Transitioning to the 2018 World Swimming Championships in Hangzhou, he seized a total of nine medals, basking in the glory of six gold accolades. Dressel’s dominance was on full display when he secured six gold medals at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju. An Olympic marvel, with a remarkable tally of seven gold medals, Dressel elevated his legacy by securing five golds in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, etching his name among the elite as the fifth American swimmer to achieve such a feat in a singular Olympic extravaganza.

Adding another layer to his narrative, Dressel etched his name in history as the inaugural male swimmer to triumph in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 100m butterfly events within a single Olympic chapter. His dominion extends to the annals of world records, where he reigns supreme in the 100m butterfly in both long and short courses, the swift 50m freestyle in the short course, and the dynamic 100m individual medley in the short course. Noteworthy American records under his belt encompass the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly, in addition to an array of yard events. Beyond the international stage, Dressel's collegiate journey sparkles with a constellation of triumphs, crowned with ten NCAA titles.

Caeleb Dressel’s Tattoos

Eagle Tattoo

Caeleb Dressel, the impressive sprint swimmer has an eagle tattoo on his left shoulder which covers his left chest and back. This incredible art was done by a famous tattoo artist James Cumberland. Earlier, Dressel’s tattoos also included an American flag on his right arm fitting perfectly the eagle and representing his patriotic nature. The inspiration behind the tattoo was derived from Isaiah 40:31, his favorite Biblical verse. Through these tattoos, it is evident that he has a lot of love for his country besides the fact that people can easily identify him during competitions. Dressel’s unique tattoos are now an extension of the swimmer's identity and signify Dressel’s pride and devotion to the USA.

Bear Tattoo

Caeleb Dressel has a bear tattoo on his left upper arm done by one of the best tattoo artists James Cumberland. Dressel says that he thinks the bear is his totem or the best symbol of the soul. The aggressive bear tattoo symbolizes the positive aggression that is required in competitive swimming. This latest addition of body art goes well with other tattoos that he has: the eagle on his shoulder and the American flag on his arm.

Gator Tattoo

Caeleb Dressel has a tattoo of an alligator on his left arm in homage to his college, the University of Florida, whose sports teams use alligators as their mascot. The tattoo made by James Cumberland links to Dressel's portfolio of body art that includes an eagle and bear illustrating his relations and interests.

Olympic Rings Tattoo

For any athlete, it's a dream to give their best at the Olympic Games. Caeleb Dressel to celebrate his Olympic victories gets the colored Olympic Rings tattooed on his right upper forearm by the famous tattoo artist James Cumberland. He has also inked the entirety of his left leg with outlines of flowers and cacti, with the remaining design to be coloured later.

Who is the Artist of Caeleb Dressel’s Tattoo?

All of Caeleb Dressel’s tattoos are inked by James Cumberland.

James Cumberland is a well-known tattoo artist from Richmond, United States who focuses on traditional, illustrative, and neo-traditional tattoos. The exhibition of his prowess in the art of tattooing is evident at Salvation Tattoo, an indication of his experience in the profession. His style is based on old-school tattooing but he applies a neo-traditional approach which can be seen in his bright choice of colors and the placement of the images. Generally characterized by sharp and clean lines as well as subtle and polished shading, it can be seen that Cumberland is a master at what he does. His unique approach and commitment to his work have cemented James Cumberland’s position in the list of the most talented and desirable tattoo artists.