Caeleb Dressel Tests Swimming Power Against Game Fish
Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel participated in a fishing channel experiment, using rods and reels to measure his power in the water against the pull of
Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel has measured his swimming power against ocean game fish in a new video. The experiment, featured on the BlacktipH YouTube channel, hooked Dressel to various fishing rods to compare his strength to species like tuna and marlin.
Dressel was fitted with an upper body use connected to different fishing lines. He brought his Olympic medals, setting a personal side challenge to earn them back by completing each level of the test. The challenges progressively increased in difficulty, starting with a drag of eight and a half pounds.
The Initial Tests
Before testing himself, Dressel used a rod to catch a Bonita fish weighing seven and a half pounds. His first swim test involved pulling against eight and a half pounds of drag over 50 yards while wearing a snorkel. He completed it effortlessly but rated the difficulty a "6 out of 10."
The resistance was then increased to approximately 20 pounds of drag, comparable to the pull of a tuna. Dressel completed this swim, even pulling the boat slightly. He said this challenge was significantly harder, rating it an 8.2 out of 10.
Advancing to Marlin-Level Drag
Determined to conquer the next challenge for his Paris gold medal, with his son watching, Dressel faced a similar drag weight but on a stretchy monofilament line. He swam this segment using the butterfly stroke, admitting he felt like he hit a wall.
The third test involved about 50 pounds of drag, similar to a big marlin. Dressel managed to pull only about six inches of line in 15 seconds. For comparison, the video notes a big marlin can fight that weight for an hour, and a swordfish for over ten hours.
Dressel tried again with fins, working mostly underwater, and pulled about 10 yards of line. Adding paddles for maximum power, he pulled more line and turned the boat in the process.
The Final Grouper Challenge
The final test was against a Goliath grouper tackle set at about 120 pounds of drag. Dressel attempted a new strategy, swimming straight down like a giant fish. He made no progress initially. Returning with fins and paddles for another downward attempt, he pulled a few inches of line.
This unconventional experiment, documented by BlacktipH, shows Dressel's raw power while providing a clear comparison to some of the ocean's most powerful fish.
