Watching the Olympics this month? Chances are you're going to watch at least a swimming event or two, so why not get to know about one of the big breakout stars of Games? Below are nine interesting facts about 19-year-old Olympian Caeleb Dressel, who some analysts are already calling one of the greats in the sport of swimming.
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1. At 19, Caeleb is considered one of the biggest up-and-coming sprinters in U.S. swimming, and he'll be competing in the 100-meter freestyle at the Olympics.
2. Caeleb actually originally didn't want to try swimming. His parents said he had to play a sport, so he went with soccer, but they signed him up for swim lessons anyway.
3. In high school, Caeleb trained with fellow U.S. Olympian Ryan Murphy as well as Canadian Olympic team member Santo Condorelli and Singaporean Olympian Joseph Schooling.
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4. After taking a short break from the sport between high school and college, Caeleb started swimming for the University of Florida, where he's currently a student.
5. Four-time Olympian and 11-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte was actually the one who convinced Caeleb to attend Florida. “If you want to become the best, you have to go there. Troy will get you to the best,” Lochte, a Florida grad himself, told NBC.
6. Caeleb got to be part of a USA Swimming spoof of James Corden's famous "Carpool Karaoke" segment, which featured legendary swimmers like Michael Phelps.
7. Caeleb has two tattoos, one of an eagle and one of the American flag on his shoulder and back.
8. Back in March, Caeleb set the American and NCAA records in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events.
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9. Caeleb's already being marked as one of the greats: “Every once in a while an athlete like that comes along and is just magical to watch in the water, and he really is,” Olympic analyst Rowdy Gaines told NBC.
