It appears that Olympic gold medalist Conor Dwyer will not be representing the USA at this summer’s World Championships after all, as his name no longer appears on an updated roster posted to the USA Swimming website with a date of May 1st.
Dwyer, now 30 years-old, qualified for the 4×200 free relay with his 1:46.08 effort at last summer’s USA Nationals, which served as the qualifying meet for both last summer’s Pan Pacific Championships and this summer’s international meets. While Dwyer’s social media seems to indicate that he’s been more focused on traveling than training as of late, that also appeared to the case last year, but he still managed to put up the 4th-fastest time by an American swimmer last year.
SwimSwam reached out both to Dwyer and USA Swimming to see if there was any explanation as to why Dwyer is no longer on the roster, but did not receive a response to either inquiry. While Dwyer hasn’t raced at all since last summer, according to the SWIMS database, he does appear in the USADA testing database, indicating that he has not officially retired.
With Dwyer out, Jack Conger who had already made the team for the 100 fly, now has the 4×200 free relay listed as one of his events. He finished 6th in the 200 free at Nationals with a 1:47.45, but was “bumped” out of officially making the team for that event when Zach Apple popped a 1:46.78 in the B-final at Pan Pacs. Conger theoretically could’ve been considered for the relay team anyway, as he has a lifetime best of 1:45.77 from the 2016 Olympic Trials, and also split a 1:45 on the relay at 2017 Worlds despite not initially making the team in the event, and all relays are selected by the coaching staff. However, Dwyer’s absence makes it more likely that Conger will end up in this event.
It’s also worth noting that three swimmer who have had health issues this year — Nathan Adrian, Jack LeVant, and Grant Shoults — all still show up on the updated roster, which indicates it’s at least possible, if not likely, that all three will swim this summer.
While USA Swimming hasn’t posted updated rosters for Pan American Games or the World University Games directly on its website, a web search turned new rosters for both events.
Hellen Moffitt no longer appears on the updated Pan American Games roster. She was initially selected for the 100 fly. Instead, Ali DeLoof is now listed for the 100 back. Additionally, Andrew Abruzzo now appears for the 1500 free. Only one swimmer, True Sweetser, was slated to swim the 1500 free on the initial roster.
The only change on the new World University Games roster is that Devin Nowicki is out and that Ian Finnerty has been added to the roster. This is no surprise, as Nowicki told SwimSwam that he was no longer enrolled in college and had told USA Swimming that he was ineligible for WUGs.
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Have you ever read the basic? Working hard is the punishment for mankind. Not a pleasure or privilege.
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
Genesis 3:19
How in the world is Townley Haas not on the 4 x 200 Free Relay?
Yahooooo – thats a solid releif – and i hope it gives the spot to someone deserving it .
With Haley Anderson making the World’s roster for Open Water, doesn’t that pull her off the Pan Am roster since you can’t swim individual events at both meets?
Good question – the selection procedures for pool & open water events were separate, so it appears they are treated as separate rosters. So a swimmer like Anderson can compete in open water at Worlds while staying on the Pan Ams roster as a pool swimmer.
Looking at Conor’s photos, he’s still looks lean, with abs ready for the camera.
So, he could jump back into training without a major overhaul of his body.
Training for the 400 free is a lot hard than the 200. My guess is that he shoots for the 200 free if and when he come back to competition.
This year world championship going to be a disaster for Team USA.
That might be the dumbest comment of the day.
Is it? 2015 was a disaster…
Of the year ….
Bold statement when USA has a Caeleb
And Murphy. And Kalisz. And Andrew. And Ledecky. And King. And Baker. And Regan Smith. This team will do fine.
No fanboys following them though.
This Team is gonna be awesome ……
I think there is the belief that it benefits the team for the following year to allow many of our top swimmers to have a longer training lead in to their summer championship meet. Apologies to Annie Lazor and whoever else should be on the team but I dont think its that big of a deal and most of the remaining top swimmers either got a WUGs or PanAm invite as a consolation prize.
It looked a lot worse in 2015 than it does at this moment, because a bunch of the people (mainly on the female side) were winding down careers made the worlds team, and a bunch of the up and comers had huge meets at Pan Ams. It was a bad look when Natalie/Katie Meili/Kelsi/Schmitt all had huge breakout or return to form meets and beat the Franklin/Hardy/Stewart/Manuel medley relay that went to worlds, and everyone panicked. But in the long run, it didn’t matter-athletes who were on the cusp of breaking out got international experience at Pan Ams, and those that were most deserving made the Olympics in 2016, where the USA was fantastic.
So, to allay worries, I’ll put… Read more »
Because Conor Dwyer isn’t swimming? C’mon.
I kind of agree with this, the superstars might have endorsements/campaigns already lined up for the olympic push & not go fully 100% invested because the real money maker is 2020. for some of the younger/fringe contenders on the US, it’s certainly a big meet.
All of us on the ‘92 team were dating supermodels.
Except Gold Medal Mel, who was definitely not dating Summer Sanders.
I feel like this is the true breakout year for the young ones. I know Dressel exploded in 2017 but we get a good look now at a fired up and (somewhat) experienced
Kalisz
Pieroni
Apple
Seli
MA in MANY events
A charging Caeleb Dressel
Jack Conger
Haas (hopefully will blast a 1:44+ after his NCAAS)
Pebley
Prenot (Haven’t seen him in tip top form since 2016)
Wilson
Many more.
Oh really? Not sure why that would be.
Hundred bucks says Dwyer doesn’t make the team
I would agree with you expect I would have said the same thing about him making the Worlds roster and he proved me wrong. Dwyer is a talent and can be sneaky good.
Jumping in here…. We all know swimming is tough. It’s a beast on your body and mind to keep swimming/training at an elite level. I think Dwyer is managing his passion for sport. Makes sense. I think he’s focused on the prize, the one event that writes your swim-history, US Trials and the OGs. In sum, I think Dwyer is very legit going into 2020 Trials. He’s dangerous. After you’ve been to a few OTs and OGs, you have a huge edge on everyone…… THEN AGAIN, I also follow his IG, his life, and once you have Olympic hardware, and a comfortable life—for a long time–it is hard to re-enter the monk-like Olympic training cycle…. We’re clearly going to know… Read more »
Coleman! Stop down voting me!!!!!!
I agree. Phelps did this is in a way due to suspensions and actual retirement and it gave his career longevity. Comparing him to Lochte, who leading up to 2016 hadn’t taken any breaks and trained incredibly hard for many many years, he seemed fresh in 2016 while Lochte seemed run down. Ervin is another great example. Grinding year in and year out takes it’s toll. A mental and physical break, as long as you stay in general shape, may be just what Dwyer needs to keep his edge.
Phelps had more talent in his little finger than Dwyer has in his whole body. So there’s that.
I think you’re selling Dwyer short here, he’s insanely talented
@Melvin We’re you dating a super-model for the year heading into the ‘96 Olympic Trials? 🙂
Mel wasn’t as hot as dwyer. And dwyer is no spring chicken. Mel is right… if he’s grinding in October he’ll be in the game. If not… maybe not. But 145 anything will at least make a relay.
You’re right. Ryan Lochte won’t either.