American swimmer Jack Conger is heading home, or at least closer to home, to join the new post-graduate training group at the University of Virginia. Conger is the first external post-grad to train at Virginia under 2nd year head coach Todd DeSorbo.
Conger was born and raised in Rockville, Maryland, which is about a 2-and-a-half hour drive from Charlottesville.
Virginia coaches say that they’re being very selective about who they are allowing into their post-graduate group, and will intentionally keep it limited to just a few non-Virginia post grads.
Conger won a gold medal as a prelims-only swimmer on the men’s 800 free relay at the 2016 Olympic Games. The 24-year old finished his collegiate eligibility at the University of Texas with the 2017 NCAA Championships. His college career included 17 All-America honors, 14 Big 12 titles, and 9 NCAA titles. That includes a win in the 200 fly, which was also an NCAA, American, and US Open Record (in other words, the fastest time ever). He’s continued training at Texas as a post-grad until now.
“The past five years swimming for Texas have been the best years of my life,” Conger told SwimSwam. “I will always cherish my time swimming for Eddie, Kris, and Wyatt. Now, I am ready to start the next chapter of my professional career in Charlottesville. I can’t wait to be a part of what Todd and Tyler are building at Virginia.”
While swimming high school in the DC area, Conger was primarily a backstroker and 500 freestyler, breaking National High School Records in the 100 free and 500 free. In college, though, he developed into more of a butterflier, and his focus freestyle distance became the 200.
At the 2018 US National Championships, Conger’s results were:
- 100 fly – 51.11 (2nd)
- 200 fly – 1:55.21 (tied for 3rd)
- 200 free – 1:47.45 (6th)
That earned him the right to swim the 100 fly individually (and likely as part of the American medley relay) at next year’s long course World Championships, as well as a consideration for a spot on the 800 free relay. He is also one of 18 men chosen to swim for the U.S. at this year’s Short Course World Championships.
DeSorbo will be Conger’s primary coach, though the entire Virginia staff will be involved in his training.
Is Andrew Wilson training at UGA? He posted a photo on Instagram with UGA breast group…
Nice article. One small correction: He didn’t break the national high school record in the 100 back, but he did in the 100 free — 42.81 — leading off a relay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZCovHcPwNs
Broke the 500 record (for independent schools) in the same meet! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtXPU5kAS1Q
And talked with 500 legend Jeff Kostoff immediately afterwards: https://youtu.be/s2Qxj2Bm0-Y?t=9
It made me laugh when previous SS commenters said he was a diamond in the rough. He was a very good swimmer before he ever got to Texas.
He has the most talent of any of the 200 flyers, though his LCM races don’t always prove this.
Sometimes it looks like the nervous tension before championship races saps his energy.
A change in his training, and maybe the fresh encouragement of a new coach might unlock his potential.
Great move, feel jacks needed a change for a while.
Texas all the way if he going the 100’s, but Texas never got him lights out in both 200fly and 200free in same season long course.
Could it be for additional higher education or something else….??? What a concept that one’s future is not only about swimming.
Hook em wahoos! Jack makes the 4th Texas Longhorn from the 2010s to be currently affiliated with UVA
Yes yes lol.
Who else?
Maybe he has a sweety @UV?! 😀
Planning for a career in DC post swimming???