"These Paris Olympics medals seem a lot less serious" - Caeleb Dressel weighs in on the experience of competing as a parent at 2024 Olympic Games

Caeleb Dressel, the 10-time Olympic medalist, recently said that his perspective on competing has changed since becoming a father and that winning medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics felt less significant to him. The American swimming icon welcomed his first child in February.

Caeleb and his wife Meghan Dressel welcomed their firstborn, August Wilder Dressel, on February 17. The family was also there to support Dressel at the Paris Games. Dressel missed the 2024 Doha World Championships in February to keep himself in the right shape for the Olympics and embrace his new role as a father as well.

In the wake of becoming a father, Caeleb Dressel discussed his renewed thinking on participation in the Summer Games.

"These [Paris Olympics] medals seem a lot less serious. Competing just doesn't seem as important." Dressel said, "But having him in the stands was really special. Getting to hold him. Just bringing him to the pool and showing him the part of my life that I've had for 22 years." (Via Olympics.com).

Dressel entered his third Olympic Games in Paris as a seven-time champion of the quadrennial event. He gained two more gold medals to his trophy cabinet: the 4x100m freestyle relay and the mixed 4x100m medley relay. The 28-year-old swimmer won his first Olympic silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay.

However, Dressel had a disappointing individual performance, failing to defend his titles in the 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle.

"I kind of shiver thinking about trying to compete in another Games" - Caeleb Dressel on participating at the 2028 LA Olympics

Caeleb Dressel at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Image via Getty)

With the conclusion of the Paris Olympics 2024, the baton has been passed on to Los Angeles for the XXXIV edition of the Summer Games.

Talking about his participation in games in front of his home crowd, Caeleb Dressel said that even thinking about another Olympics makes him feel nervous, acknowledging the immense dedication required for such an event.

"I kind of shiver thinking about trying to compete in another Games right now as it takes a lot out of you!" he said (via Olympics.com).

"But I would love to compete in front of a home crowd. That's always been my dream for any major competition. I've never had that opportunity, so I'm not sure where I'll be four years down the road." He added

However, Caeleb Dressel assured the fans that he would be there in LA, whether in the stands or competing in the pool.