2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
- Meet website
- Meet information
- Event Order
- Full selection procedures
- Psych Sheet
3-time Olympic medalist Conor Dwyer is scheduled to swim the 100/200 free and 200 IM at U.S. Nationals next week in Irvine, California.
The 29 year-old has been mostly absent from competition in 2018, only competing in two meets – last week’s Los Angeles Invite and April’s TYR Pro Swim Series in Mesa where he only swam prelims of the 200 free (1:49.45). In L.A., Dwyer put together a string of good performances in the 100 free (49.38), 200 free (1:47.28), and 200 IM (2:02.37). His 1:47.28 is the 2nd fastest performance by an American this year behind Jack Conger‘s 1:46.96 from the Atlanta Pro Swim Series in March.
Oddly enough, Dwyer implemented the same strategy in 2017 – swam one race in April (prelims of the 100 free in Mesa), a full schedule in early June at the Santa Clara Pro Swim Series, and then Nationals in Indianapolis where he qualified for Worlds by way of a 4th place finish in the 200 free (1:47.25).
There’s no doubt he has the raw talent to throw down a 1:46 200 free on a moment’s notice to qualify for Pan Pacs this summer. However, when will we see Dwyer back at his full potential? He is the bronze medalist in the 200 free from the 2016 Rio Olympics (1:45.23) and just missed the podium in the 400 free with a 4th place finish in 3:44.01. He is a 1:43/3:42 talent, but it will take a monumental effort for him to tap into that potential over the next two years.
The most interesting part of his schedule next week is the 200 IM. Dwyer has always flirted with this event, but never really had a true breakthrough performance. Without Michael Phelps in the picture, he qualified for the 2013 World Championships where he finished 10th with a 1:58.52 and the 2015 World Champs where he finished 5th with a 1:57.96. The question is, does he have what it takes to contend next week? Barring a peak Ryan Lochte performance or Caeleb Dressel deciding to swim it right before the 50 free, reigning World Champ Chase Kalisz has the top spot all-but-locked. After that, there are a handful of guys in the 1:56-1:58 range with Abrahm DeVine, Josh Prenot, and Gunnar Bentz among others. With Lochte in the picture and a Dressel sighting looming, the odds aren’t in Dwyer’s favor. Never say never, though. His best time is 1:57.41 set back in 2014.
Conor Dwyer’s 2018 U.S. Nationals Entries By Day (Prelims Start Time)
Day 1 – Wednesday, July 25th
- 100 free – 10:08 AM (#17 seed – 49.40)
Day 2 – Thursday, July 26th
- 200 free – 9:35 AM (#6 seed – 1:47.25)
Day 3 – Sunday, July 29th
- 200 IM – 9:39 AM (#17 seed – 2:01.96)
His lifetime best is 1:45.23 in the 200 free, and suddenly he is a ‘1:43 talent’ at the age of 29?
“talent to do a 1:43” – well considering no one is going that time in the world right now, that’s a pretty bold (silly) statement
I agree. The only swimmer that presently shows the ability to do something like that is Dressel.
Sun Yang disagrees
Um no. More like dressel, Haas, sun yang, Dana’s rapsys, James guy maybe, Duncan Scott, Chad let clos, I might’ve missed some others
Scott did a flying 1:43 last summer, so in a few years he may do it on a flat start. Not sure if dressel will swim the individual.
I mean James Guy not Duncan Scott
Dressel’s PB is a 1:47 how is that showing the ability to go 1:43
Edited the post to clarify my original intent. Is Dwyer talented enough to go 1:43 peaked and in his prime? Absolutely. Do I think he will? No. The point is I don’t think we have seen him reach his full potential.
I still disagree, from what I know in Rio Dwyer was peaked and in his prime and he went 1:45. Not sure how he could drop down to 1:43.
How on earth is Dwyer a 1:43/3:42 talent at the age of 31 if he didn’t get close during his prime
I agree. If he can stay at a 1:45 thatd be amazing and a real big help for the 4×200 relay in 2020. This guys been the face of consistency on that relay and i think he will be able to continue.
He is a 1:43/3:42 talent? Those are some hefty drops….
Having the talent to do something and actually doing it are two completely different things. 1:43.9 is a big drop from 1:45.2, but not impossible. He was 3:43.4 in prelims of the 400 in Rio, so 3:42 is (was) possible. Doubt he will get back down to that. Regardless, I don’t ever think we have seen Dwyer at his full potential.
Agreed. He was great in Rio, why are we so sure he’s got THAT much more in the tank?
I think Dwyer has a 1:46 low in him which might be enough to beat Pieroni for second
No way he is beating Pieroni who is excellent this year ….
Idk what this guys goals are. He’s been 1:45 in the 200 free since 2012
Saw an interview that said he’s taking it easy each year until Tokyo (where he will train hard), in order to not overdo it so he’ll be afap in 2020
upvoted for afap
I like the long game. Hopefully he does just enough to stay in the game before really buckling down for 2020 Trials. A lighter training schedule in the middle of the quad might not be a bad idea for a 29 year old. Lots of chances for injury if you grind too hard for four years. With the upcoming crop of young guys, he’s gonna have his work cut out for him, but he has definitely been a great asset for the US in the past and will probably continue to do so for a few more years.
He went 1:45 in 2016