Arizona State junior Cameron Craig is no longer a part of the Arizona State men’s swim team, the school confirmed to SwimSwam Thursday.
We originally reported that he was sitting out the fall semester for undisclosed personal reasons, and ASU declined further comment this time around “out of respect for [Craig’s] privacy.”
Update: Craig may return to swimming this summer and is leaving the possibility of an NCAA return open. He gave SwimSwam the following statement:
“I love Arizona State and the staff of the team was amazing and supported me through out my time there. Whether I return to the NCAA is up in the air, I haven’t had any conversations with any school yet, but I do plan to return this summer possibly.”
Craig skipped the entire summer season and has not logged a race since the 2018 NCAA Championships, where he placed 13th overall in the 200 free, scratched his individual 100 free, and was 19.67 in prelims of the 50 free. He was the 2017 Pac-12 champion in the 100 and 200 free and was named team MVP that year. He snagged a 2018 title in the 200 (he was third in the 100).
The team took 6th and 4th place overall in the conference in Craig’s first and second seasons, respectively — head coach Bob Bowman’s second and third.
The Sun Devils have some mid-sprint free depth to fill Craig’s absence. Sophomore Grant House and a freshman contingent including Cody Bybee and Noah Henry lead the way with sub-1:33/1:34 200 free and sub-43/44 100 free potential, but Craig’s freshman year Pac-12 record of 1:31.71 in the 200 and PR of 41.95 in the 100 leave big shoes to fill. House’s season-best of 1:33.34 currently ranks third in the Pac-12, with Bybee and Liam Bresette (who hit best times in the fall) sitting 11th and 12th.
Craig also owns lifetime bests of 19.50 in the 50 free and 1:42.75 in the 200 IM.
News of Craig’s departure comes a week after fellow mid-distance freestyler and former Pac-12 champion Grant Shoults, of Stanford, announced he underwent shoulder surgery, leaving room for new faces atop the Pac-12 middle-distance podium.
I heard he’s back. So glad he’s done with all of the drugs 🙏
Everyone assuming its bobs fault when it actually has nothing to do with him. stop trashing his name if you dont know what happened.
I’d like to know the story behind why Cameron’s nickname was “Big Horse.”
He swam to an NCAA A final as a freshman training with Ryan Mallam, who was abruptly fired without explanation.
Self-proclaimed “horseman” Bob Bowman proceeds to ride Cameron to a B final the following year, confirmed allegations of sexual harassment directed at Clark Burckle surface the following summer (https://staging2.swimswam.com/arizona-republic-obtains-publishes-full-bowman-burckle-text-messages/), and now one of the brightest young stars at ASU isn’t swimming at all.
If you think those actions aren’t part of a pattern of abuse, then you’re part of the problem. When people like Bowman build a career on being unaccountable and having protection from national (and now collegiate) bodies they treat people like… Read more »
Please just focus on your new school, Dr. Nick Butler.
Thank you! Im sure others were thinking that
Thank you Cameron for making a statement to clear up some assumptions. It’s not fair to the current staff and team to trash ASU due to what sounds like a very personal decision for Cameron.
It’s clear as mud. But I’ll accept that it wasn’t Bowman that’s the problem, at least in this situation
Bob likes to use his toys until they break.
It’s a shame to see Cameron have to step away from the sport, but it’s probably the healthiest move for him.
Best wishes Cameron.
Thanks to all responding on this article with their own personal experiences. You provided great specific questions to ask my d1 freshman. Much appreciated.
I hope this wonderful kid Cameron finds a place to land. Best of luck to him.
Cameron Craig was/is one of the best rising stars in recent years. I sincerely hope that if he chooses to continue his swim career that he finds a place where he can enjoy these college years and reach his potential. If he chooses not to swim or can’t for some reason we don’t know, wishing him the best!!!!