Home/Swimming

“It’s not really about counting medals for me. It’s just about getting better every day.” Sounds like a quote? Well, this is what the renowned American swimmer Caeleb Dressel had to say about his massive trail of winning medals at prestigious events. Although the word of his greatness has reached beyond limits, the statistical way of measuring the success of athletes generally lies with their achievements. Here’s everything to know about Dressel’s Olympic wins and other accomplishments across various championships.

All about Caeleb Dressel’s Olympic history and medals earned

The standout American swimmer Caeleb Dressel has a big list of achievements. Looking at the notable moments that he lived at the prestigious games, the 27-year-old boasts eight Olympic gold medals along with multiple world records. This makes him one of the most decorated U.S. swimmers in history. His Olympic journey began at the 2016 Rio Games and therefore extended at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, setting the perfect example of consistency in the sport.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Here’s a list of the Olympic Medals secured by Dressel throughout his career:

  • Rio 2016:
    • 4x100m medley relay (Gold)
    • 4x100m freestyle relay (Gold)
  • Tokyo 2020:
    • 50m freestyle (Gold)
    • 100m butterfly (Gold)
    • 100m freestyle (Gold)
    • 4x100m medley relay (Gold)
    • 4x100m freestyle relay (Gold)
  • Paris 2024:
    • 4x100m freestyle relay (Gold)

Dressel became the first male swimmer to win gold in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 100m butterfly at the same Olympics in Tokyo. With this, the American didn’t just strengthen his portfolio but also made his name known to the world, entering the list of historical athletes. However, his accomplishments aren’t just limited to the Olympic medals as the 27-year-old has been actively participating in other events as well.

Learn about other achievements of the USA swimming superstar

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Besides the consistent wins at the Olympics, Caeleb Dressel also has a diverse portfolio of wins in different events. The American made history in 2017 by becoming the first person to swim the first 15 meters of the 50-meter freestyle event in under five seconds. Just two years after that, he broke Michael Phelps’s world record in the 100-meter butterfly by finishing the race in just 49.50 seconds. Dressel also became the first person to swim the 100-meter butterfly in under 48 seconds during the 2020 International Swimming League final, a record that was earlier held by South African swimmer Chad le Clos.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Dressel has a long list of achievements at major competitions. He won gold in the 50m butterfly and the 4x100m medley relay at the 2022 World Championships. The 27-year-old shone at the 2019 World Championships with six gold medals and two silvers. Along with that, he also took home six golds and three silvers at the 2018 Short Course World Championships. The 2018 Pan Pacific Championships also saw him winning two golds, two silvers, and a bronze. His performance at the 2017 World Championships ended up with seven gold medals.

Dressel sits on a massive trail of records. The list includes the American records for the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 50m butterfly. He also holds world records for the 100m butterfly, the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay, and the 4x100m freestyle relay. Dressel says, “It’s not my goal to beat anybody in particular, it’s about achieving what I think my potential is.” His focus on making himself better every day and pushing his limits not only helps him with consistency but also makes him a role model for enthusiasts out there.