Why Santo Condorelli ‘Bounced’ After the Turn of the 100 Fly Prelims at PSS – Westmont

2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT

Santo Condorelli plays by his own rules — and that includes stopping a race if he doesn’t feel like finishing it.

During the Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont on Thursday morning, the Canadian-Italian-American swimmer led his morning heat of the 100-meter butterfly with a 24.03. The recently unsuspended 28-year-old Olympic silver medalist paused for a moment at the wall, took a few more strokes, and decided to call it quits.

Condorelli’s 50 split won’t count as an official time because he didn’t finish the race legally, according to USA Swimming’s rule 102.23(d), but he said he didn’t care because the time wasn’t worth recording.

“It was absolute sh*t from the start so I bounced,” said Condorelli, whose best 50 fly time is a 23.30 from 2015.

One of the most interesting men in swimming continues to keep us on our toes. After getting his 18-month suspension lifted, Condorelli joined Texas Ford Aquatics under former Alabama head coach Coley Stickels, reportedly training to vie for a spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic team.

Condorelli was born in Japan and raised in the United States, representing America in the early stages of his career. He competed at the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials and the 2014 Phillips National Championships, but started representing Canada in 2015 — being able to do so because his mother is Canadian. As a Canadian, he won bronze in the 4×100 mixed free relay at the 2015 World Championships and placed fourth at the 2016 Olympic Games in the 100 free. In 2018, Condorelli switched to Italian sporting citizenship because his father was Italian. In his time representing Italy, he swam at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, where he won a silver medal as a prelim heats swimmer on the men’s 4×100 free relay.

In order to represent a country at international competition, World Aquatics requires a swimmer to either be a citizen of the country or reside in that country for at least three years. To change sporting nationalities, a swimmer must wait three years from when they last represented a country before competing for a new country in international competition.

  • Read more about World Aquatics’ new policy regarding nationality changes here.

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Grant us eyes
1 year ago

« Canadian – Italian – American swimmer » what a legend

Tea rex
1 year ago

Now, if he had gone like 23.1…. I’d like to see him have to finish the 100 fly… LEGALLY… after a no breath first 50

woods
1 year ago

did he breathe that first 50?

IMO
Reply to  woods
1 year ago

He did not. Clearly never intended to finish the 100.

Howie
1 year ago

Full weaksauce amateur hour even though he led the 50. You haven’t hit next level until you crank on the laneline in the 100 meter back to beat your best friend in the lane next you. SJA 1983 nailed it. A win is a win. Ask Gordy Smith and Bill Thompson…Next.

Michael Andrew will win the 200 IM in Paris
1 year ago

Bro is an actual troll

Tanner
1 year ago

Dude rage quit like he was playing a video game lol

Everyone
1 year ago

I can’t stand this guy

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Everyone
1 year ago

Boo. Swimming could use something actually interesting for once.

(Don’t get me wrong, plenty of fast swimming going on. But this is legit entertaining.)

Pesci Details
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Fair point, although there is also much entertainment to be had–and probably some interest–by having someone in sports who you “can’t stand.” A villain, a heel. You need both sides booing at each other to tango. As you demonstrate.

Last edited 1 year ago by Pesci Details
Howie
Reply to  Everyone
1 year ago

Nobody needs you to.

Jon
Reply to  Everyone
1 year ago

Can you sit him?

Verram
1 year ago

Imagine if he made the US team and did that at the Olympic final .. cant win the gold might as well stop racing LOL

joy
Reply to  Verram
1 year ago

Does this means he’s out of the 2024 Olympics?

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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