Tokyo (AFP)

Since its explosion in 2017, Caeleb Dressel has followed in the footsteps of the legendary Michael Phelps.

But the American swimmer, crowned Olympic champion in the 100m on Thursday, is not animated by the hunt for records and has learned to detach himself from the gaze of others to accomplish himself.

"I don't need people looking at me. What matters is just me, Troy (his coach, editor's note), my teammates and the pool, he says. I'm not looking to be famous . I just want to see how far I can go and try to harness my potential to the fullest. That's all. "

The Florida sprinter, who will turn 25 in mid-August, is less precocious than his illustrious elder with the record 23 Olympic gold medals. When Phelps claimed his first world crown at the age of 16 (200m butterfly in 2001), and his first individual Olympic coronations at 19 (2004), Dressel did not reach it until the age of 20 and 24 respectively.

But since the summer of his revelation four years ago, he has been harvesting world gold with all his might.

Seven in 2017 in Budapest, Phelps record in one edition tied.

Six in 2019 in Gwangju, plus a first world record in the 100m butterfly, owned by ... Phelps again, all in the heart of a collection of eight medals never seen at the Worlds until then.

Like its profusion of gold in the space of one evening, both in Hungary and Korea, with three titles won in a hundred minutes.

So much so that with thirteen world titles before celebrating his 23 years, Dressel is practically keeping pace with Phelps, 26 times world champion in six editions, including 17 in the year of his 22 years.

- "I didn't know if I was going to come back ..." -

"I witnessed the birth of a star", admired in 2017 the American backstroke Matt Grevers, multiple Olympic and world champion.

For Dressel, who came to swimming at a very young age like his three brothers and sisters, and a true Floridian, from his childhood in the town of Green Cove Springs, north-east of the "Sunshine State", to his training base in Gainesville. , at a big hour's drive, everything almost changed at 17 years old.

At that time, the expectations around the young sprinter grew at the rate of the records by age category that he accumulated.

Too much for the teenager he still is then.

So much so that after a nose operation in early 2014, he did not dive back.

"I needed a mental break, I had certain demons to fight, says Dressel in the American press. I did not know how long I would need, if I was going to get back in the water."

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"He said to himself: + I'm tired of swimming for others, I must learn to swim for myself," recalls his mother Christina, who referred him to a sports psychologist.

About five months later, Dressel sent his then-trainer, Jason Calanog, a photo of a swimming pool.

"His way of telling me he was coming back," sums up the latter.

The day he returned to the water is etched in his memory.

"I felt invigorated. It was like a new baptism," he compares.

- "Exceptional up to 25 m" -

It was just after this break that Dressel chose a first tattoo for his left shoulder, an eagle with outstretched wings, inspired by his favorite Bible verse.

Some time later, as he resumes his walk forward, his faith is displayed even on his cheekbones, on which he inscribes religious references.

Today, his arm saturated with tattoos is his "perfect reflection," he told AFP.

There is an American flag, a black bear, a symbol of "strength and power", and a bunch of references to its Floridian roots: alligator on the elbow, the emblem of the University of Florida, oranges, flowers. 'orange tree and magnolia, "a sturdy tree".

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A single ink on his right forearm: the Olympic rings.

In the basins, his trademark is his departure so gushing.

"He has tremendous strength and explosiveness in his legs. He arrives in the water forty centimeters further than everyone else, with twice the speed. As he has a very slim body, he keeps it. And he keeps it. has the best flows in the world, decrypts Julien Jacquier, trainer of Florent Manaudou. All that gives him ten free meters. Up to 25 meters, he is exceptional. "

His coach Gregg Troy praises the extraordinary intensity of his concentration.

"His best level is in a horizon of four to eight years," he assessed in 2016. He was right.

© 2021 AFP