Gregg Troy Caeleb Dressel Ryan Lochte
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U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming Friday, June 11, 2021 Omaha, Nebraska, USA CHI Health Center Gregg Troy Q. Caeleb, does it feel weird to be in a trials without a Michael Phelps? Caeleb Dressel CAELEB DRESSEL: I don't know if I'm a seasoned Ryan Lochte enough veteran to be qualified to answer that question as much as some other people can. But for me, I was Media Conference actually, when we first walked on deck, I was talking to Ryan, and 2012 was my first trials, as a 15-year-old, and I remember where I was sitting when I was watching him THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions, please. and Michael race and it's just, it's funny how full circle things have come now to where now I have my picture on Q. Thinking back to your first Olympics experience, if the big thing out front. It's just weird for me because I still you could give Ryan Lochte from 2004 some advice feel like that 15-year-old sitting up in the nosebleed seats knowing what you know now, what would you tell him? nine years ago. So it's crazy. For me, I got to see Michael You've obviously learned a lot of lessons over the swim twice at trials, 2012, 2016. So for me it's not that years. weird, but I think for, I think Michael's first trials was 2000, so for some people like Ryan, I mean, Ryan's had them RYAN LOCHTE: Just to stay calm. I know in these types since 2004. That was his first trial. So I think for some of meets, especially in the Olympic Trials, there's a lot of people more so than myself it would be weird. hype on and you can get discouraged and you can, sometimes that can interrupt your swims. But I think if you Q. As a follow-up, do you feel any burden in picking just stay calm, for me personally, if I, the more calm I am up that mantel that Michael has left? and not reading into the crowd and all the other swimmers and just kind of stay in my own lane, I'll be better off. So CAELEB DRESSEL: I don't think that falls on my just stay calm. And then just enjoy it, especially for those shoulders alone. Michael was one guy within USA young swimmers that this is their first swim meet, like big Swimming, but he wasn't USA Swimming. I think that's Olympic Trials. Enjoy it and embrace everything that's what makes USA Swimming so strong is the team and as a going around you because this is probably one of the collective whole. I say that every time. My favorite part funnest swim meets in the world. about any team trip I've been on is the training camp because that's when Team USA really becomes Team Q. Ryan, what advice do you have for young athletes USA. We bond together and is really is a collective group that maybe you wish you would have known sooner? and I don't think that should fall on one person's shoulders. I don't think it was Michael alone and it's certainly not RYAN LOCHTE: I guess one of the biggest things that I'm myself alone. still kind of get into, like, my brain and understand, is health on my eating habits. I mean, I still get crap put on me from Q. Caeleb, I think you were barely out of diapers when Troy and the other guys about how I eat. It's just, if I Anthony tied for the gold medal in the 50 in 2000. So actually paid attention on when I was younger kid, I think I what is it like for you to see him competing in the 50? would be a better athlete as I am now, just because anything you do put in your body does have an affect on CAELEB DRESSEL: Yeah, I was actually in diapers for a your overall performance and your attitude. So once I very long time. That's a separate story. (Laughing). started eating healthier, I mean, I'm not a saint, don't get me wrong. Once I started eating healthier I started noticing What was the last part of the question? I'm sorry, all I was my practices becoming better and my overall attitude, I thinking about was diapers. was just a lot more happier. So that's what I would say to the younger kids. Q. Sorry to distract you. What is it like for you to see him at 40 entered in the 50? 108673-1-1044 2021-06-11 22:22:00 GMT Page 1 of 7 cancelled as well. So that was the first taste I got was a CAELEB DRESSEL: I think it's great. I've always said baseball game probably where I would have thrown my this. I'm going to go on record. Tony has one of the most shoulder out, so it was probably all for the best. beautiful strokes I've ever seen. I think if he ever got into the 200 that would have been his prime event. He's pretty RYAN LOCHTE: Everything happens for a reason. good at the 50, so for me to say that is a very bold (Laughing). statement. He's got just a beautiful beautiful stroke. So I think it's exciting for the sport. That was the first swimmer I Q. Looking back now over the 12 months since the think I really attached to, technically, regarding his postponement of this event from 2020 to now, what did technique, especially in the 50. When he swims the 100, I that year do for you or to you and how do you regard just think he has a beautiful stroke. So for me as high that year now? It wasn't exactly a lost year. You still schooler that was the first role model I had in the sport swam. But do you expect to swim this week as well as regarding stroke technique. So it's awesome I think for the you would have in June of 2020? sport and for Tony to be doing it at the age he is and still competing. RYAN LOCHTE: I think I'm going to swim better than I did last year, than I was -- I'm in a better state mentally and Q. Wondering if you had any doubts or concerns over physically. I'm a really firm believer that everything the past 15 months that this day wouldn't come. happens for a reason. And maybe it was a sign of saying I wasn't ready last year. But I'm ready this year. The CAELEB DRESSEL: It still hasn't yet. So, yeah, I think so. training that our group we have done in the fall has been I don't want to speak for Ryan as well, but certainly, but tremendous. I mean, I get a swim with Caeleb every day Troy always had a plan. We followed that plan. I know he and we get to race each other and it's so much fun. The had a backup plan in case it didn't go through, but Troy other guys that we train with, we just have such a great always said, We're training as if trials are happening and group, and I think we're all in a better spot than we were we're going to train as if the games are happening, so if last year. So this is going to be exciting. something does fall through, we're not going to be looking cluelessly which direction to go. So we always had a CAELEB DRESSEL: Yeah, I don't want to sound like a direction. That's all credited to coach Troy. I think me and broken record with what Ryan said, but last year was really Ryan are just good listeners. That's why we end up in the tough. I mean, there was points where I was throwing my boat we are right now. hands in the air, I was butting heads with this guy. He put me in my place very respectfully. He's got some wisdom So we got, what, a couple more days until it actually starts, on me so he knows how to handle me. But there was three days, something like that, so we'll see then, but I got points to where I didn't know what I was swimming for, a, pretty confident trials is going to go through here. meets were so far away, but with what Ryan said, I didn't want to use that as a time to become lazy. I wanted to fix RYAN LOCHTE: Yeah, I agree with Caeleb. I mean, in habits outside the pool, and then once I got back in a the beginning of the pandemic there was some doubt. I normal routine, we're going to be in a better spot. So I'm a mean, I thought the Olympic trials were going to happen true believer with what Ryan said. I think we're in a better last year and then it got postponed. And then earlier in the situation than we are this June than what we would have fall I was still thinking, I mean, there's always some doubt, been in last year. nothing happened, nothing ever happens the way you really want it to perfectly.