Michael Phelps shares one-word reaction to Caeleb Dressel spending time with young swimmers

Michael Phelps reacted to Caeleb Dressel having fun with young swimmers at a swimming club in Texas, a place he said was his second favorite US state. Dressel led the torch for US Swimming following Phelps’ retirement at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Dressel visited the newly opened Nitro Swimming club in Central Texas and shared a lot of fun moments with young kids at the poolside. The nine-time Olympic champion shared a video of himself with the young swimmers on Instagram and thanked them and the club hosting him.

"I’m not tagging everybody! Thanks for having me at your pool and thanks for listening to me yap @nitroswimming. Texas is my 2nd favorite state," he wrote.

Michael Phelps was delighted to see his Rio Olympics teammate’s heartwarming gesture and expressed his thoughts in one word.

“Epic!”

Michael Phelps' comment on Caeleb Dressel's Instagram

The Baltimore Bullet competed alongside Dressel at the 2016 Rio Games, and the duo won two gold medals together. They were part of the USA 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley teams, both of whom won gold medals with an Olympic record performance in the latter as well.

While Phelps retired following the Games, Dressel was backed to fill the void left by the 28-time Olympic medalist. At the next edition of the Games, the 28-year-old did exactly that, winning an impressive five gold medals with two world and Olympic records each.

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“It's not fair to Michael Phelps” - Caeleb Dressel on comparisons with the swimming great

Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016 - Michael Phelps and Caeleb Dressel celebrate Olympic win (Source: Getty)

While Caeleb Dressel made his Olympic debut at the Rio 2016, his comparisons with Michael Phelps started off at the 2017 World Championships, where he won a staggering seven gold medals. Six golds and two silver at the 2019 edition added fuel to the debate with the 28-year-old also breaking Phelps’ 100m butterfly record.

However, despite the online debates, Dressel said in 2021 that he didn't like the comparisons and called it unfair to the legacy of the 28-time Olympic medalist.

"I don't think it's fair to Michael. He's a better swimmer than me. I'm completely fine with saying that. That's not my goal in the sport, to beat Michael. I'm a very different athlete than Michael. He was at a whole other level," he told NBC.

Dressel struggled with depression and mental health issues following the Tokyo Olympics, and after a long break in 2022-23, he triumphed yet again at the Olympics, winning two golds and one silver medal in Paris last year.