Former United States National Team swimmer Shane Ryan has announced that he will be moving to Ireland in May in an attempt to qualify to represent the country at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Ryan, who has completed three seasons of eligibility at Penn State, made the announcement via his Facebook page.
I’ve been given the opportunity to train with the Ireland national team and work towards possibly representing them in the Olympics . It was a tough decision for me but I’ve decided that this was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. I’m moving to Ireland in May and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve had such a great time here at PSU the last 3 years and I’m going to miss everyone. But I will be back in 2016, to swim for Penn State and to finish my senior year and graduate. If your ever in Ireland give me a call!
Because Ryan’s father, Thomas, is Irish, he is eligible to change his sporting citizenship to that country’s, though it will mean living in the country and taking a year-long break since the last time he represented the United States internationally. While simply being on the National Team doesn’t lock Ryan into American sporting citizenship, representing the country at the 2013 Duel in the Pool does, which triggers the mandatory residence and wait periods before he can officially compete for Ireland.
The official FINA rule:
GR 2.6 Any competitor or competition official changing his affiliation from one national governing body to another must have resided in the territory of and been under the jurisdiction of the latter for at least twelve months prior to his first representation for the country.
With a good year of competition, Ryan should be able to qualify for the Irish Olympic Team. He was 2nd in 2014 at the NCAA Championships in the 100 back as a sophomore (44.78) and was 3rd as a junior (45.24).
Ryan’s immediate contribution will be in the 100 backstroke, where his best time in long course meters of 53.84 is already faster than the 54.44 Irish Record in that event done by Karl Burdis in 2009. He’ll have to repeat the feat, likely at next year’s Irish Olympic Trials, for that record to count officially.
He’s also faster than the Irish Records in the 100 LCM free (49.27), the 100 SCM free (48.14), and the 100 SCM backstroke (51.01). Ireland is unlikely to qualify any relays for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, but Ryan could conceivably compete for the country at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships in London.
In the summer of 2014, Ryan ranked 7th in the 100 back in long course and 9th in the 100 free.
Ryan’s comments indicate that he intends to return to the Penn State program to complete his eligibility in the 2016-2017 season.
While I realize that “no one cares”* about NCAA swimming, at least compared to the Olympics, it is worth noting that this probably even makes some sense from a Penn State team perspective. The team had no other individual qualifiers this year besides Ryan and Nate Savoy, and Savoy graduated. Of the four relay-only swimmers at NCAA’s, two were sophomores, one was a junior, and one was a senior, so there’s a reasonable chance that PSU may finish higher in 2017 with Ryan than they would have in 2016 with him.
*POL’s words
1. Shane is an elite level swimmer who has commanded a lot of attention because of this decision.
2. Competing at the Olympics for an Olympic Team is not equal to participating at the Olympics as a part of Team USA.
If you’ve decided you can’t beat someone at US Olympic Trials, you’re bringing the wrong mindset to the Olympic Games. The guys you avoided in Omaha will be in Rio.
Citius, Altius, Fortius indeed.
Some swim to challenge themselves, others swim for the social aspects.
Go USA!
Personally, I’d rather have the chance to try and beat Grevers, Plummer, Thoman, Murphy or whoever else survives US Trials in Rio rather than Omaha! Of course, I’ll be rooting for the US contingent, but it would be really nice to have a THIRD “American” in the race, even if he needs a loophole to get there. 😉
Beyond swimming he has a chance to live abroad. How many young people get an opportunity like this to live in a different culture and experience something new for a year? After he is done swimming this experience will be an asset to him for his initial job search and career. Terrific for him.
Good point! As a citizen of Ireland he would be able to work anywhere in the UK in addition to the US! Considering how hard it is to find a job right out of college these days, that’s a nice fringe benefit!
It is better than that, he can work in the UK or in any of the kingdom nations, Australia, Canada, etc. This really increases his non-swimming possibilities when that time comes.
Oops, I meant to write anywhere in Europe,not the UK, but I didn’t realize he could also work in Canada or Australia, etc with Irish citizenship! This decision is looking better and better!
Plus, anybody who thinks a 6’7″ swimmer with his talent doesn’t have a lot of potential for improvement isn’t paying attention (eg: Vyatchanin and Grevers). I just hope he will find the coaching he needs to maximize that potential in Ireland!
I’m all for someone chasing the Olympic dream. Good for him. I’ve always advised my swimmers who can to get that other passport just in case.
There is a legit chance he would final at US Trials and not make the team with times that will final at the games.
His career would be 50/50 after graduating with no Olympian attached to his name.
He can now legitimately swim till 2024 and make a career out of it as Olympic Finalist Shane Ryan on his resume.
No brainer.
Casey Barrett wrote a great article about his decision to represent Canada at his Cap and Goggles blog.
But this does lead to a rather interesting hypothetical discussion: what’s better, to make the Olympics in a couple individual events, and not medal, or to make the Olympics as a relay-only swimmer, and get a medal? Not exactly Shane’s situation, as he has an outside chance of medaling in the 100 back, and there’s no guarantee that the USA men’s 4×100 free team will medal (although they should).
Random fact:
2012 US Olympic Trials: Ben Hesen placed FOURTH in 53.03.
2012 London Olympics: Camille Lacourt placed 4th in 53.08.
This decision is no doubt primarily his mother’s. I guess they realized unless he plans to work harder he doesn’t have a strong shot at making the U.S. team in the 100 back. I believe this is the easy way out, as Shane was born in the United States, lived in the United States, and competed as a U.S. Citizen all his life. I find it sort of strange that this is even legal but to each their own.
So you’re saying Shane Ryan can beat Murphy, Grevers and Thoman? U.S. backstroke is stupid fast, it’s great he has an opportunity to potentially reach the greatest stage in the world. If you honestly believe his mother decided this for him you’re a fool. Shane Ryan is an adult. He can make his own decisions without his mother just fine.
Please do not speak for me. This was totally Shane’s decision. His father & I told Shane we’d stand behind whatever decision he made. This is actually a far more complex road he is taking, not the easier one but we are excited for him. Especially since he’ll be getting to spend some quality time with his Grandfather, Aunts, Uncles & cousins in Ireland. Please stay positive.
I’m sure the majority of SwimSwam readers wish your son the very best of health and good luck as he works toward his personal goals, Mrs Ryan!
The only people who need to be happy and feel comfortable with this decision are your son and your family. This is just as exciting and rewarding for him for non-swimming reasons as for swimming reasons. Best of luck to him.
While it’s admirable to commit to the dream-grinder that is US Olympic Trials, you’re potentially looking at a situation where you’re top 5 in the world and can’t go to the Olympics. Having already been 53.8 in the back (I assume this was done last year, with this summer and all next year to drop more), that’s a legitimate possibility for Shane Ryan. I don’t blame him for making the decision that he did.
As mentioned above by others, I do feel sorry for the Irish athletes who will lose their records to someone who has never trained in or competed for in Ireland. Still, that’s not Shane Ryan’s fault either. If those athletes feel that it’s unfair, they should… Read more »