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Katie Ledecky on Caeleb Dressel: “There’s so much that you all don’t see”

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

After winning another national title in the 800 free, Katie Ledecky spoke to the press about a myriad of topics. Lastly, she spoke about her Florida teammate, Caeleb Dressel, saying he is a joy to have in their training environment. “There’s so much that you all don’t see on a day-to-day basis just on the joy that he brings to the pool deck every day”

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John Poole
1 year ago

I swam in high school in 1960 – my 50 yard free was 26? as a class C swimmer (135lbs) 10 year old females now make that time but most of jus never trained- we just swam a few laps at practice. None of us had tattoos or felt the need to have tattoos. Dressel seems obsessed with being culturally hip. Tattoos in most sports today seem like mandatory conformity.

Swimforlife
1 year ago

I didn’t think I could admire KL any more than I already do but here she is giving a masterclass in grace, eloquence and diplomacy. A true leader.

Last edited 1 year ago by Swimforlife
Beginner Swimmer at 25
1 year ago

So heartwarming for Diehl to reach out to Caeleb at the end of the race even though he finished last. I am sure swimming next to Dressel is a dream for him. Also Caeleb smiling finishing a C Final. Diehl is trying to help Dressel, Dressel is helping Diehl, swimmers lift up & support other swimmers <3

And Ledecky calmness is such a breathe of fresh air from all the overbearing toxicity aimed towards Dressel from Swimswam (including myself)

Last edited 1 year ago by Beginner Swimmer at 25
Caleb
1 year ago

There’ some actual news here – she said “when he got back in February” – there’s been reporting that he got back in the pool in December. fwiw, a seven months break and four months training is a little different story than a five month break and six months of training. Anyway, who knows how he’s really feeling. We can only speculate. Yes, he would do himself a favor and make his life easier, by doing an interview or two. But it’s not a moral failing to stay quiet, and that was a very graceful answer from Katie.

Becky D
Reply to  Caleb
1 year ago

I don’t understand how people can think that providing an occasional interview or IG post will calm speculation rather than induce a feeding frenzy.

Swim Mom
1 year ago

I’m not sure why the swim community seems to think they deserve a window into Caleb Dressel’s life. Guess what? You don’t. I understand the speculation but at the end of the day he owes you nothing.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Swim Mom
1 year ago

I get it, we’re not “owed” anything. (Though that’s sort of a big bummer with people in general these days – no one thinks we owe anything to anyone!)

But saying “there’s so much that you all don’t see” when we literally cannot see anything because the entire program is one giant “no comment” it’s sort of hard to square.

RealSlimThomas
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Not just the program. Think about the entire roster at 2022 WCs that has kept entirely quiet…it’s actually quite impressive.

Virtus
Reply to  RealSlimThomas
1 year ago

I don’t rlly get it bc this sport is not one with a millions of angry fans sending death threats like others I feel like there’s not much of a reason to not say anything. Obviously there’s pressure ofc

M M
Reply to  Swim Mom
1 year ago

Couldn’t agree more

YGBSM
1 year ago

Much credit to CD – shows up to swim in a C Final at Nationals. How many years since he’s done that? He didn’t think he was too big for the process, too big for the C / D portion of the Finals. That’s class. Well done.

Willswim
1 year ago

I give him credit for swimming in the C final last night when everyone here joked that he’d scratch and go home. He put on a brave face and was seen smiling on deck on a night where he was probably dealing with some internal strife. As far as I’m concerned he can use this week to hit qualifying times for 2024 trials and then fade off into the shadows for a year to train with very low expectations from the swimming community adding pressure to his life. I hope he’s got another run in him, but he clearly needs to re-find joy in all of this if he’s going to continue. Training for this sport is too brutal without… Read more »

This Guy
1 year ago

It is wildly interesting to see such silence from Caleb. Nearly any PR person would advise him to control the narrative and at least have some print interviews.
I’m sure his sponsors have been trying to get him to open up a little bit more and maybe that’s why he is at this meet, simply to fulfill some contractual obligations

Rafael
Reply to  This Guy
1 year ago

Maybe he himself in unusure what is his issue, and we do not know if he has Professional help to support him

CDawg
Reply to  This Guy
1 year ago

I beg to differ on “controling the narrative”. Let everyone speculate for a year. CD can focus on training without distraction

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