David Nolan posted the fastest time in history to win the 200 IM at the 2015 Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships, lowering his cluster of American, US Open, NCAA, and Stanford records from 1:40.07 to 1:39.38.
Will Licon pushed Nolan to the record with the third fastest time in history and a second place finish of 1:40.09. The only two swimmers that have been faster than Licon are now Nolan and Ryan Lochte.
Comparative splits:
| Fly Split | Back Split | Breast Split | Free Split | TOTAL TIME | |
| Nolan ’15 NCAA’s | 21.67 | 24.32 | 29.21 | 24.18 | 1:39.38 |
| Nolan ’15 Pac 12’s | 21.96 | 24.95 | 29.05 | 24.11 | 1:40.07 |
| Lochte ’07 | 22.00 | 24.24 | 29.28 | 24.56 | 1:40.08 |
| Licon ’15 NCAA | 21.67 | 25.4 | 28.75 | 24.27 | 1:40.09 |
| Ally ’09 | 21.46 | 24.42 | 29.86 | 24.75 | 1:40.49 |
| Nolan HS | 22.07 | 24.92 | 29.76 | 24.64 | 1:41.39 |
I guess all those Swimswammers who were basically writing the epitaph for David Nolan’s career last season have a little humble pie to eat!
What are his LCM times though? A lot of swimmers post incredible SCY times then it doesn’t translate to great LCM times for Olympics! Best of luck to him though and I hope it does. Time for some fresh swim faces at the Olympics!
You don’t have Licons prelim swim in the list… would love to see that breaststroke split compared.
Congrats to my former neighbor on the circle!!!
Im curious as to what a theoretical 400MR consisting of 4 David Nolan clones could pull off. Based off PR’s and splits, i came up with this
Back:44.99 (2013 NCAA 100 Back Final)
Breast:51.23 (2015 NCAA 400MR Final)
Fly:45.5 (This is the question mark. I know he went a 46-mid the week after he destroyed all pretenses of NFHS records at PIAA states in 2011)
Free:41.67 (I don’t remember where, but I do remember seeing this. 18.3 speed probably means he could be faster)
Total:3:03.39 with possibly conservative fly and free splits
Not sure a whole lot of people can claim that, although Conger would definitely be close if not better, depending on his breaststroke… Read more »
I had a hearty chuckle at the concept. I think you’re right, though. I don’t want to do the research and math, but I suspect you’ve got to get into some big names before you get much faster than that (Phelps, Lochte, Hagino if we had any yards data on him).
Vlad Morozov.
Wow, that would be a great battle of raw power vs. smooth technique and great 100 speed.
The 200MR is close through the first 100, but the Vlad clones would absolutely destroy the fly and free legs, giving team Vlad the win.
The 400MR is *a different story. No idea well Vlad could hold together a 100 back or fly, but you can probably peg both somewhere in the 45mid-46low range.
Nolans 1&2 build a big lead on the front half of the race, while Vlad 3 holds his own on the fly leg, leaving Vlad 4 in striking distance of Nolan 4 on the freestyle leg. Vlad 4’s raw speed comes through on the first 50, in which he… Read more »
Vlad Morozov’s breastroke is insanely fast. His 100 breast is world class. So I think Vlad 2 would be faster than Nolan 2.
Vlad Morozov’s breastroke is insanely fast. His 100 breast is world class, which many people don’t really know or expect. Just another thing to bear in mind.
Both Vlad and Dave have insanely fast breaststrokes, both capable of going in the 51-low range on relay splits. However, with Nolan’s massive advantage in backstroke, and probable advantage in fly (his 21.6 open looked ridiculously smooth), Vlad would still have a good amount to make up on free. But if there’s anyone who could possibly launch a sub-40 split to steal the win, its him…
Paul, I’m not sure I’d call Nolan’s advantage in backstroke “massive.” I don’t think Vlad ever focused on it in short course but we know how good he is at it, and he’s gone 53 in the back in long course.
53 LCM? wow, i stand corrected then. This is a much closer battle in the 400 MR then. That Vlad 4 anchor would be certain to put it away though. I think that gives the edge to him then. Today I learned something new.
that was a nut-punchingly awesome swim. that he took it out in 45.99 adds only adds to the legend.
“dude, remember when nolan went 1:39.38?”
“dude, i know. he was out in forty. five. nine.”
“i know. whoa.”
“yeah. whoa.”
no tears swim.
Theroboticrichardsimmons, “nut-punchingly awesome”! Best description ever on Swimswam! LOL!
In 2023, 1.36.34. 3 seconds faster, 44.07 take out.
Can we get a race video?
Amazing.