Florida Gators Legend Caleb Dressel Isn't Just Superhuman, He's Also a Super Human

Courtesy of Team USA Twitter / Getty Images

I learned that Caeleb Dressel was more than a superhuman athlete last year.

It was January and the then-named Stephen C. O’Connell Center Natatorium was filled to the brim with spectators watching the Florida Gators swimming and diving teams host the Auburn Tigers for Senior Day.

Former Florida basketball standout Omar Payne quietly sat poolside to support his peers, while former Florida linebacker James Bates, in James Bates fashion, cheered loudly for his daughter Talia alongside his wife Tina, who once swam in the same pool for the Gators.

Meanwhile, on the pool deck, isolated from everyone else in the chlorine-smelling building, Caeleb Dressel stood leaning up against the wall -- the same wall that his name and records are fixated on forever.

Careful not to draw attention, Dressel watched as his younger sister Sherridon took the pool on her Senior Day.

But despite his best efforts, his camouflage failed and he was eventually surrounded by dozens of young swimmers from the Bolles Swimming club, the same club team the Green Cove Springs native swam for when he was younger.

For over an hour, I witnessed a 23-year-old world champion and national champion selflessly sign shirts, hoodies, hats and Apple Watch bands for wide-eyed young swimmers aspiring to be just like him.

He stood there with his back to the pool until the last article of clothing was signed and his now-wife Meghan snapped the last photo.

For me, it was reminiscent of watching Tim Tebow sign autographs until nightfall after football practice.

The selflessness that Dressel displayed that afternoon on the pool deck made me a fan -- not of his swimming abilities, but of his ability to represent himself and the University of Florida so well.

For me, it was one of those, “ It’s great to be a Florida Gator” moments.

And on Wednesday night, Americans around the globe got a taste of what that feeling was like.

After swimming an Olympic record time of 47.02 seconds in the 100 freestyle, Dressel used the last bit of strength he had to pull himself onto the lane rope separating lane four and lane five before looking to the results board.

While still looking for his breath, Dressel’s eyes lit up as he realized he had just broken the Olympic record en route to capturing his first individual gold medal.

His child-like expression says all there is to say about his feelings: he can’t believe it.

But his post-swim interview is what really put it into perspective.

Still dripping wet, disheveled and fumbling to catch his breath, Dressel attempts to describe his emotions:

“I don’t know if it’s really set in yet,” a choked-up Dressel said. “Right now I’m just kinda hurting.”

Obviously physically taxed, the longer he was out of the pool, the more prominent his emotions became.

“It’s a really tough year,” Dressel said. “It’s really hard. So to have the results show up, I mean, it really came together, so I’m happy.”

But it was the moment Dressel got the opportunity to see his family, albeit virtually, that the former Florida Gator captured the hearts of an entire nation.

As the screen panned to his family and wife, Dressel’s hand instantly found its way over his mouth and the Olympic gold medalist broke.

After exchanging tearful “I love yous” between sobs, Dressel’s emotions continued as he made his way into the depths of the arena and into the team locker room.

Once on the podium, Dressel’s eyes continued to well as the national anthem played.

The amount of pride and raw emotion that Dressel showed on Wednesday night reminded me that the former Gator isn’t just superhuman in the pool, but that he’s also a super human out of it.