Back-to-back losses left Caeleb Dressel in tears on the pool deck on August 2, marking a heartbreaking end to his final individual event at the Paris Olympics.
Dressel finished sixth in the men’s 50-meter freestyle final, a race in which he had set an Olympic record at the Tokyo Games.
Less than an hour later, Dressel failed to make the final for the 100-meter butterfly. At the 2021 Summer Games, his gold medal-winning time of 49.45 seconds set both Olympic and world records, records that still stand today.
“It was very obviously not my best work,” Dressel shared in an interview with The Athletic following the races. “It hasn’t been my best week. I don’t think I need to shy away from that. But the racing has been really fun here. Walking out for the 50 and the 100 fly was special. I don’t want to ever forget that. I’d like to be quicker, obviously. Not my week.”
After these defeats, Dressel was seen crying on the pool deck. He was captured on film wiping his eyes, which were red from tears, after sharing a long hug with someone.
"Heartbreaking to see Caeleb Dressel in tears. These athletes dedicate so much to these moments, and it’s devastating when things don’t go as planned," one viewer commented on X.
Cheers for the coach who helped get Caeleb Dressel to some privacy. Disappointment is hard. I hope he knows how much the US is still SO proud of him.
— Rebecca (@roarrrbecca) August 2, 2024
"If they could stop filming Caeleb Dressel during his vulnerable moment, that would be great. It was hard to watch," another viewer added.
Dressel eventually moved out of the camera's view after a few minutes.
Online, many expressed their appreciation for Dressel's achievements.
"Cheers to the coach who helped Caeleb Dressel find some privacy. Disappointment is tough. I hope he knows how proud the US is of him," one person noted.
"Regardless of opinions about the cameraman filming #CalebDressel at the #Olympics, it’s important to show that even grown men can express emotions and disappointment. I hope his wife gave him a comforting hug from all of us," another viewer shared.
Dressel still has potential opportunities to swim in two more events in Paris: the 4x100-meter mixed medley relay final on August 3 and the men’s 4x100 medley relay.
In the mixed medley, Team USA finished first in their preliminary heat on Friday, with Regan Smith swimming backstroke, Charlie Swanson on breaststroke, Dressel on butterfly, and Abbey Weitzeil on freestyle. The preliminary heat for the men's medley relay is scheduled for August 3.
So far in Paris, Dressel has secured one medal: gold in the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
Overall, the Olympian has accumulated eight gold medals throughout his career.