Conor Dwyer is one of the most interesting cases coming in to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. He’s 27-years old, but because he was very much a late-bloomer in swimming, he still feels like “one of the kids,” as evidenced by one question referring to him as a “younger guy,” despite the fact that he’ll be on the older end of the team for Rio if he makes it.
He placed as the 5th-best 200 IMer at last year’s World Championships, but at Trials will still be facing an uphill battle to pick off either Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte for a spot in that event where they’ve dominated the world for the last 10 years.
Dwyer seems to be the best 200 freestyler in the country at the moment, but again could face Lochte, could face Phelps, and will try and fight off a brilliant young crowd of challengers for an individual swim.
Since the 2012 Olympics, where Dwyer won gold as part of the American 800 free relay, Dwyer left Gregg Troy (who he says is the only one who believed in him four years ago), went to Bob Bowman in Baltimore, went to Dave Salo across the country in Los Angeles, and over the last year has bounced around with different training groups including spending a big chunk of time back with Bowman, in altitude, in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center, all while remaining .
He’s spent more time at temporary altitude (AKA, excluding those like Missy Franklin who live at altitude), than any other American in that time, with almost 100 days altogether spent in Colorado Springs.
And for all of it, in the mystery that is our sport, Dwyer has been swimming very well, at the last two Arena Pro Swim Series stops in Mesa and Santa Clara, Dwyer has been in the best groove and with the most confidence of his professional career.
Read the full transcript of the 10 minute video here, or watch the video above courtesy USA Swimming.
Dwyer will do amazing things this summer, I predict 1.43.99 in the 200! I wonder how fast he will swim in the 400, he will crush his PB though.
That’s a long time at altitude. Glad to hear his training is the best its ever been.
A swimmer who’s been developed by Gregg Troy, Bob bowman, Dave Salo and Jon urbancheck as a senior athlete spending 100days at altitude has all the signs to be ready to unleash something great.
He seems very confident aswell, think the 1.44 club could be getting a new member on Tuesday night.
Could be a new thing for world swimming if he unleashes monster swims, having two/three world class coaches instead of one. I’m assuming he’s been following Salo or jons training program even though he’s been with Bob?
All mid-distance/distance swimmers and track athletes should live at high altitude all year. No?
Jessica Ashwood, Mack Horton and Jaz Carlin will be sad now. There’s no real high altitude in Australia and UK. 🙁
Civilisations who live at altitude go bonkers after generations of oxygen deprived brains.Start throwing ppl off & just general sacrifices to gods etc . Boulder is going to be EPIC!
GO Conor , a big win in the 200 and 400 free .
And a monstrous anchor of the 800 free relay