I love 2016 Olympic champion Jack Conger. I know it’s not right, that I should be neutral and not a fan, but Jack’s a good guy, a workhorse, and, in college, he developed into a butterflyer, the greatest event invented in history.
Jack’s butterfly evolution has been bumpy, especially in the 200. After dropping a 1:54 in 2015 at U.S. Summer Nationals in San Antonio, he didn’t follow up in 2016. He dropped a personal best in 100m fly at the 2016 Olympic Trials, but it’s clear he felt he should’ve been faster in Omaha.
What will Jack drop at U.S. World Trials in Indy? This is what I’d like to see:
100 butterfly – 50.8 (his PB from 2016 OTs is 51.26)
200 butterfly – 1:54.1 (his PB from 2015 US Summers Nationals is 1:54.54). Coming off of his 1:37.35 200 yard fly at NCAAs, 1:54 low feels well within striking distance.
There’s a lot to unpack about Jack. He’s got so much talent and range. Many of us forget his 200m back–that he swam a 1:55 in 2013 at World University Games. While 200 back may not be worth his focus with Cal stars Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley creating a backstroke-block, 200 fly is wide-open. Still, I’d love to see Jack break through and threaten in backstroke. His 200 free is there. Jack will keep his 4×200 relay position and threaten Texas teammates Townley Haas and Clark Smith in the top two U.S. spots. Will he turn-on his 100 free? I think so. I could see Jack becoming a stalwart team leader on all free relays over this quad. What do you think about Jack?
What about the new Texas Pro Team? Will Licon got it right. It does feels like a return to the heyday of Ian Crocker, Aaron Peirsol and Brendan Hansen. If success spreads like a virus, Texas Pro Team 2.o (TPT) could be the best buy commercially–team sponsorships, swimsuit partners, etc. What are you thoughts about TPT over 2018-2020?
And butterfly as the best stroke in history, I don’t need an opinion. That was decided by the Global Swim Committee on Greatness back in the 1950s. Those wise swim leaders knew they developed perfection when they birthed butterfly.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Mel, the 200 fly and the 100 free are on the same day at world trials. Day 1. 100 free final is just after the 200 fly final. So I don’t see him try both events there. Anyway Conger has choices to do for his future. Either he wants to be good at several events or he wants to be great in one or 2 races. Either he wants to be great at 100 free/200 free or at 100 fly/200 fly.
He must choose now to prepare Tokyo 2020. Fly events are very open right now in USA and all his focus for his individual events should be in my opinion on fly, especially the 200 fly. And it… Read more »
too bad those 2 events are on day 1 !!! I wish he could get on that 400 free relay .
I don’t agree fly is the “best stroke”. In terms of what?! Its not the fastest or anything?
Maybe you don’t know that Mel Stewart swam butterfly….
It’s mentioned just below.
I think the ritalin – aderall worked much better for Simone Biles than Jack . Maybe he needs to up his dose . Jack was simply not up the the other worldly focus & spatial awareness & extreme concentration of Simone . We expect more from psych meds now we know how Simone did it .Don’t let your fans down Jack .
What?
Referencing the Fancy Bears hack of the confidential medical files regarding therapeutic use exemptions with WADA. Jack had one for Adderall. Apparently this troll believes TUE’s are never legit for medical conditions, and it’s great to promote an illegal hack.
Not at all , I stated that Biles was an outstanding success . Adhd in the finest motor controlled sport at the olympics & mega champ .
I thought Adderall was a banned substance in international competition period.
You said Jack ‘had’ an Tue . No it’s past present & future tense. He has one until 2020!
Obviously some one had high hopes for him to get this waiver . I know of no one who has a medical script for 4 years that does not need review .
Just read these leaks for the first time… this is so discouraging. Why have these not been further publicized? If these truths are already made public by someone, what is the ethical issue with promoting them further?
I am digging the “Jack lovefest”. It is your time, Jack. It is all on you, now. You CAN do this.
Clark over Conger in 200 fly, if Clark swims it. Clark just beat Conger in 200 fly here in Austin, and I know it does not mean anything, but that was the easiest 200 fly I have ever seen.
Mel, who is the assistant coach from Wisconsin coming to coach them? Is it Neil Caskey?
That would be a better pick
Inside joke: Wyatt’s girlfriend, who has zero
Emilie hoeper, really good young coach
The biggest problem for Conger 200 fly at Trials last year, he was waaaay too slow at the third 50.
(8) 1:26.27 30.56
The slowest third 50 of the whole field, last at the last turn.
Kalisz is an endurance guy, he can finished last 50 at 30 low.
As we know Sheilds will take it out fast.
I could see Bentz has the strongest last 50.
Conger will need to be stay close to Shields at the 150, turned at second, try to chase down Shields, and hope for he has a lead enough to hold on those Dawgs, including Clark.
The biggest problem for his 200 fly at trials was the three rounds of 200 free and two rounds of 200 fly that preceded it.
yeah , i was sad for him to get into so many races and not even qualify for one individually .
The double was the second problem, but as Conger himself said in the video, the 200 free shouldn’t be an excuse.
Another thing about the 200 free 200 fly double though, Bentz also survived the night before 200 fly final(5th at 2free 5th at 2fly semi, Conger was 3rd 7th respectively, cut it really close), and place 4th at the final, only 0.01 behind Conger.
I would say Bentz handled the double better than Conger.
Bentz’s problem is, he was out too slow at the first 100, 7th at both turns.
The big difference is the Georgia guys, to some extent, didn’t seem to go into deepest taper for NCAAs before trials, compared to Texas. Bentz and Litherland were OK, but not lights out like they were at OTs. The Georgia men and women (Smoliga) did great at OTs. You’d expect Bentz to handle the double better, because he trained for the 400 IM all year and swims it every year at NCAAs. The surprise was his 200 free, which he doesn’t swim at NCAAs.
Wow I always forget about that 1:55.47 200 back from 2013. Pebley was 1:54.77 for second at Trials last year, so I really wonder if Conger will take another stab at this event, maybe next summer. I think it’d be a shame if he didn’t. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to shy away from more events.
I know…1:55.4 is legit….and he did it back in ’13. Jack’s got a lot of hidden powers.