The journey to success is often paved with challenging obstacles. Although Caeleb Dressel’s 7x gold medals may give the impression differently, swimming can be an extremely demanding and confining sport. Despite his achievements, Dressel, one of the best swimmers in the world, has struggled greatly on the inside. Dressel holds the men’s 100-meter butterfly world record mark, as in 2019, he became the first person to overtake Michael Phelps.

Did you know? Growing up, Dressel swam in the same league as Ryan Murphy and spent many summers smashing records set by Murphy the year before. He broke his world record when he won 5x gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Dressel was unhappy, striving for excellence, and barely satisfied despite all the conquests. Known for his quest for excellence, the swimmer has faced his own “monsters”—the weight of expectations and the demands of performance.

Now, Dressel seems like someone who has learned about himself from therapy.

He will tell how beneficial it has been to have frequent meetings with his therapist. Dressel has grown, as seen by the way he speaks regarding his experience with mental health. He claimed in a discussion, “I created a monster in myself — just so caught up in perfectionism.”

Although he is aware of the negative aspects of swimming, he chooses to point out its benefits. “There are parts of the sport that I really dislike, that I really hate. But it’s worth putting up with for the moments that I really do enjoy. It’s going to be a balance,” he remarked.

The 27-year-old has rebalanced his connection with the sport due, in large part, to therapy. “I’ve been trying to not be so fixated on results and just simply enjoying racing and training,” Dressel said. “Those are the two parts of the sport that I really enjoy.”

This viewpoint is a major shift from his prior way of thinking. He now focuses on the parts of swimming he enjoys, finding joy in the process as much as the outcome. Dressel’s honest reflections show his growth as a person and an athlete. While he admits that not every aspect of swimming will be pleasurable, he stresses the significance of striking a balance in these areas.

Caeleb Dressel’s ‘monstrous’ feelings ahead of the Paris Olympics

Dressel has acknowledged that his obsession with perfection caused him to become a “monster” inside himself. “So caught up in, ‘If I don’t see these times, it means I’m a bad person, or it means I did not train hard enough,” he clarified on the “Unfiltered Waters” podcast.

Notably, Dressel abruptly pulled out of the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, taking an eight-month hiatus from the sport. He responded, “I was lost,” and spent days doing almost nothing but going to therapy to sort out the chaos in his head. During his therapy sessions, Dressel could explore his innermost feelings and ideas.

Not just for his swimming prowess but for his general well-being, he had to figure out how to communicate with himself again and find balance in life. He stayed away from the University of Florida pool because he didn’t want to smell chlorine and instead allowed his thoughts to wander while mowing the lawn.

During these reflective moments, Dressel accepted that he might never swim again. His eventual comeback to the sport at Florida, guided by coach Anthony Nesty, began with this acceptance, which turned out to be a turning point in his life. Dressel accumulated his weekly practice schedule from three to four.

The monster in the pool found a balance!

Dressel is currently training for the Olympics in Paris with a different perspective. Together with several relays, he will compete in the solo events of the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter fly. After placing third in the final, Dressel could not defend his 100-free gold medal at the U.S. Olympic trials. Still, he remains satisfied to get into the Olympic squad and proud of his achievements.

Thus, Dressel has changed due to his time away from the game and therapy sessions. Now he’s bigger, smarter, and honestly satisfied. Dressel is prepared to face the “monsters” he has within him as he travels to Paris, accepting the balance!