The next Michael Phelps? Meet swimmer Caeleb Dressel who’s at the 2024 Paris Olympics – the American has already set multiple records and scored brand deals with Speedo, Omega, Toyota and Nobull
- Dressel is among the fastest male swimmers in the world and has won seven gold medals across two Olympic Games; he’s slightly shorter than Phelps, who is said to have the perfect body for swimming
- The Florida native has set records in 50-metre freestyle and 100-metre butterfly, and is married to his high school sweetheart, Meghan, with whom he shares a baby boy, August
At 190cm tall, Dressel is just slightly shorter than Phelps, whose body is ideal for swimming, sports scientists have said.
Dressel is scheduled to compete in both the men’s 50-metre freestyle and men’s 100-metre butterfly, as well as the men’s 4×100-metre freestyle relay, in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Born and raised in Florida, Dressel currently lives in a rural area near Gainesville. He honours his home state by sporting a series of tattoos featuring animals native to Florida, such as an alligator, black bear and eagle.
Dressel grew up in Green Cove Springs, Florida, and began swimming at age five.
At 15, he was the youngest male swimmer at the 2012 Olympic Trials, and soon after started racking up medals at the 2013 World Junior Championships and US Junior National Championships.
Dressel swam for the University of Florida, setting records at the school, state and NCAA levels.