Santo Condorelli Eligibility Appeal Rejected; No Entry at U.S. Olympic Trials

Santo Condorelli will not be competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials after being deemed ineligible twice: first by USA Swimming, and then by an arbitrator.

Earlier this week, USA Swimming director Lindsay Mintenko sent an email to all athletes and coaches qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials regarding what they claim is a “legal situation that could impact the Trials.” While the email does not name the athlete in question, sources tell SwimSwam that the athlete being referred to is Canadian and Italian Olympian Santo Condorelli and his eligibility to swim at the U.S. Olympic trials.

According to the email, Condorelli was denied eligibility by USA Swimming to race at trials and represent the U.S. at the Paris Olympics if he qualified. However, he had challenged USA Swimming’s decision and it was in the hands of an arbitrator.

Sources now tell SwimSwam that his appeal was denied. If Condorelli’s challenge has been approved, he had intended to enter the men’s 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly. The late entry deadline was 11:59 p.m. EST on June 10.

SwimSwam has reached out to Condorelli multiple times, but he has declined to comment on the matter of his situation.

SwimSwam has also reached out to USA Swimming for comment.

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Fly your bird elsewhere!
4 months ago

Never wanted him up here, Italy never wanted him there. He does damage to teams. Even growing up(yet to happen) he was a problem child. Wrecking team usa would have been a result of his qualifying. Medals, at some point, are not worth chasing with someone this self centered and destructive. Fly away little starling.

Derp
Reply to  Fly your bird elsewhere!
4 months ago

Finally someone who knows said it . I come off like a hater I know that but santo is one of the biggest jerks I’ve ever met . His parents are just as bad no wonder he turned out to be a self serving a**h***. Only his fangirls like him

Swim
Reply to  Fly your bird elsewhere!
4 months ago

He’s almost 30 and his dad still calls him “his golden boy”. Whole family needs a taste of reality, can’t win everything.

Canaswim
4 months ago

Can someone fill us in on all the hate for this guy?

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Canaswim
4 months ago

I think people bash him for not being “loyal” or something? I don’t particularly get it

No Mercy Without Redemption
Reply to  Steve Nolan
4 months ago

Loyalty to the team is important.

nealnan8
4 months ago

Breaking news! Santo Condorelli has announced he will now try to qualify to swim in the Paralymoic Games in 2024. He now claims that he was born without a heart.

Breezeway
4 months ago

Good! It should have been denied. Can’t go around bouncing from country to country every Olympic cycle.

Landen
Reply to  Breezeway
4 months ago

Why not?

Coach Luke
Reply to  Landen
4 months ago

You don’t see anything wrong with that? Not ethically? Not in just the nature of the sport, or the Olympic idea. What nonsense.

FST
Reply to  Coach Luke
4 months ago

No. Some people have ties to more than one country. Some people have multiple passports and citizenships. Why shouldn’t they want to swim for more than one country throughout their careers? It’s not like he’s doing it for multiple countries at the same event (like some American coaches who come to mind). So, I really do not get why everyone’s panties are in a twist over him.

JimSwim22
Reply to  FST
4 months ago

I wish he had swum but I also think we shouldn’t have multiple citizenships. Don’t care what other countries do but USA should have people declare

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Breezeway
4 months ago

The only reason he ran into an issue here is this Olympic cycle was only 3 years.

Swimsy
Reply to  Steve Nolan
4 months ago

I could be wrong but I *think* this rule was put in place after they already knew it was only a 3 year cycle.

Willswim
4 months ago

I feel like a child whose whole world has been crushed because they learn that there is no Santo Clause.

Last edited 4 months ago by Willswim
Jake
4 months ago

Cecil Healy wouldn’t swim when Duke Kahanamoku was disqualified.
This ruling against Santo is so against the spirit of the games.
We want to watch the best of the world compete.
Damn your stupid rules. I hope the US can’t win 400FR on account of this. Serve them right.

Death by Exile
Reply to  Jake
4 months ago

He could have swim for Italy or Canada! Why not do that?

Landen
Reply to  Death by Exile
4 months ago

His dad got sick and he wanted to train closer to him

CollegeSwammer
Reply to  Landen
4 months ago

Can train anywhere he wants regardless of who he represents in international competition.

SWIMIIWIN
Reply to  Death by Exile
4 months ago

The simple reason in my eyes is he wanted a gold medal. It wasn’t about going to the Olympics or winning any medal as he already has a silver but he wanted a gold and being on the US 4×100 is as close to a guarantee as you get.

Bo Swims
Reply to  Jake
4 months ago

He didn’t meet the 3 waiting period requirement on day 1 of the swimming events. Likely you have to meet that requirement by the entry deadline. That’s a World Aquatics rule not a USA Swimming rule.

Derp
Reply to  Jake
4 months ago

lol!! He’s elite yes but he would have hindered not helped our relay , u kidding right bud . Maybe for the prelims relay but he’s not necessary

FST
Reply to  Jake
4 months ago

I think he couldn’t have swum the 400free relay regardless, because it would have been before the 3 years are up.
But I do agree that it’s upsetting he can’t even swim trials.

mcswammerstein
4 months ago

Good bye, arrivederci, au revoir. Not sure what he pretends to be anymore

Real Ragnar Lodbrok
4 months ago

!Adios!