One look at Caeleb Dressel is all it takes to understand just how important this trip to the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials is for him.

Across his upper body, the muscles that have helped him shatter records and gain popularity as one of the country's best young swimmers, a tattoo of an eagle wraps its wings around his left shoulder, stretching from his chest to his back. Below that, an American flag flaps proudly and reaches down to his elbow.

The artwork is part of how the jovial and gifted Dressel, who grew up in Clay County and now competes for the University of Florida, expresses himself in and out of the pool.

But don't mistake any coincidence in the imagery: These Olympic Trials are as significant as any race Dressel has competed in, and the meaning of the tattoo is deeper than the pools in which he breaks records.

"His tattoo really is a constant reminder of why he is working as hard as he is," said Christina Dressel, Caeleb's mother. "It's a reminder of, 'I want this. I want to represent my country.' It brings him peace. It makes him calm. It's a reminder to just keep focused, day after day, lap after lap. That's why you're working so hard."

Talking about her youngest son on a late May evening, Christina Dressel is seated on the bleachers that run along the pool deck at The Bolles School, a place she has spent countless hours watching her four children swim over the years.

It's a month from the day the Dressels will travel to Omaha, Neb., to watch Caeleb compete in the most important races of his life. As Christina talks, he is in Gainesville preparing for the Trials, which run Sunday through July 3 and set the team for Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Dressel is qualified in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley.

Aside from his ability in the pool, Dressel is known best for his laidback demeanor. The eagle on his arm is a reference to Isaiah 40:31, his favorite verse of the Bible. He enjoys hunting and fishing in the St. Johns River when he is home from school and training. His YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/junebat) includes GoPro videos of him doing tricks in the pool and scalloping in the river with his family.

Oh, and a pet rat is one of his best friends.

"I'm just trying to be the same kid as when I came here," Dressel said during an on-campus interview in May, the last time he was available to the media prior to the trials.

Conversely, Christina Dressel is already a bundle of nerves.

During the interview, her youngest daughter, Sherridon, who will join Caeleb and Kaitlyn (swimmer at Florida State) as college athletes when she attends UF next year, swims laps while her mother talks. As she does, Christina wrings her hands and wonders: Can Caeleb trim even more time off his swims? Can he stay mentally focused to beat some of the best in the world?

Most importantly: Can we just find out if he is headed to the Olympics already?

"It's the not knowing that's the hardest part," she said. "I know God is trying to teach me a lesson, but it's hard. It's like waiting on a pregnancy."

Really, the wait has been even longer than that. Returning to the Olympic Trials has been a daily thought for Caeleb essentially from the moment he left the event four years ago.

Dressel qualified for his first trials as a 15-year-old in 2012. Although his main reason for going was to be better prepared in 2016 and 2020 (and beyond), he still vividly remembers what he calls "some horrible swims."

He finished tied for 145th out of 167 timed swimmers in the 50-meter freestyle and tied for 152nd of 165 timed swimmers in the 100 freestyle. Four years later, the 50 and 100 free are Dressel's signature events.

"Going into the [2012 Trials], I couldn't expect too much from myself," Dressel said. "I'll never forget sitting up in the stands and watching those guys."

However, asked if she thought that week in 2012 has fueled her son since, Christina said, "Absolutely."

Dressel, now 19, knows many eyes will be on him.

The U.S. is allowed 26 male swimmers at the Olympics, and the best way to ensure making the team is winning an event at the trials, though others are also chosen on an as-needed basis - particularly for events with relays - based on times.

Although Dressel is qualified for other events, the 50 and 100 freestyles are his races that deserve the most attention.

He captivated the swimming world by setting NCAA, U.S. Open and American records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles (college pools are 25 yards long versus 50-meter international pools) at the Southeastern Conference Championships in February.

A month later at the NCAA Division I Championships, he shattered his own records by swimming the 50 in 18.20 seconds and the 100 in 40.46 seconds to bring his total to three individual national titles.

Not even American greats such as Nathan Adrian or Ryan Lochte hit those marks in college.

How good was Dressel at the NCAA meet? According to UF, his total of 57 individual points would have placed him 18th overall in the team standings. Add in the points he accumulated as part of Florida's relay teams and his 176 points would have been good for 10th as a team.

Dressel and former Bolles teammates Ryan Murphy (now at California) and Joseph Schooling (now at Texas) shared the Swimmer of the Year award. The Gators placed third in the NCAA meet.

"He makes you a better coach because he's looking for ways to get better," UF swimming coach Gregg Troy said of Dressel.

Those are substantial words from someone who has been around the best talent in swimming during a distinguished career that began at Bolles in 1977.

Troy started at UF in 1998 and served as coach of the 2012 USA Men's Olympic Swim Team in London. His UF bio says he has tutored more than 75 Olympians during his career.

Dressel, whom Troy calls a "tenacious competitor" and one of the hardest workers he has been around, wants nothing more than to join that group of swimmers.

The biggest swims of his life later this month will give him that opportunity.

And they will finally give his mother some peace of mind - one way or the other.

"He's always wanted to represent his country," Christina Dressel said. "And for him to see all those Olympians make it [after the 2012 Trials], he knew that was definitely one of his goals. When he didn't make it, that drove him. He knew that was something he wanted to do one day, and here's his chance again."

Phillip Heilman: (904) 359-4271

Three swimmers with strong ties to the First Coast have been crushing NCAA records this year and now turn their attention to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. While Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Murphy prepare for the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., Joseph Schooling is already qualified to compete in his second Olympics for Singapore.

A look at each:

CAELEB DRESSEL

Birthday: Aug. 16, 1996

Hometown: Green Cove Springs

High school: Clay High School

Club team: Bolles Sharks

College: University of Florida

Qualified events for U.S. Olympic Trials: 50, 100, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 200 individual medley

Career highlights: Named 2016 co-Swimmer of the Year with Ryan Murphy and Joseph Schooling … Has won NCAA individual championships in 50- (2015 and 2016) and 100-yard freestyle (2016) … Holds American, NCAA and U.S. Open records in the 50- (18.20) and 100-yard freestyle (40.46) … Won SEC Male Swimmer of the Year in 2016 … Won 50- and 100-meter freestyle at 2015 U.S. Nationals .

RYAN MURPHY

Birthday: July 2, 1995

Hometown: Jacksonville

High school: The Bolles School

Club team: Bolles Sharks

College: University of California-Berkeley

Qualified events for U.S. Olympic Trials: 50, 100, 200 freestyle, 100, 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly

Career highlights: Has won NCAA individual championships in 100- and 200-yard backstroke in 2014, 2015, 2016 … Also part of 200-yard medley relay that won national championship in 2014 and 2015 … Holds American, NCAA and U.S. Open records in 100- (43.39) and 200-yard backstroke (1:35.73) … Won Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year for second year in a row in 2016 .

JOSEPH SCHOOLING

Birthday: June 16, 1995

Hometown: Singapore

High school: The Bolles School

Club team: Bolles Sharks

School: University of Texas

Qualified events for 2016 Summer Olympics: 100 freestyle, 100, 200 butterfly

Career highlights: Swam 100- and 200-meter butterfly for Singapore at 2012 Olympics in London … Has won NCAA individual championships in 100- and 200-yard butterfly in 2015 and 2016 … Also part of 200 freestyle relay (2016), 800 freestyle relay (2016), 400 medley relay (2015 and 2016) teams that won national championships … Holds NCAA and U.S. Open record for 100 butterfly (44.01) and 200 butterfly (1:37.97).