David Nolan, the American Record holder in the short course yards version of the 200 IM, did not participate in the preliminaries of the 200 IM this morning at the Phillips 66 USA Summer Nationals in San Antonio, Texas. The officials results show Nolan as DNS — Did Not Swim.
In 2011, Nolan set a legendary high school record in the 200 IM as a high school senior, leading to speculation he could be the heir apparent to Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. Four years later, he finally broke Lochte’s American Record in the event with a 1:41.07 at the Pac 12 Championships, then became the first man to go under 1:40 with a 1:39.38 at this year’s NCAA championships.
Yet, Nolan has never cracked two minutes in the long course version of the 200 IM, with his best time being a 2:00.35 from the 2013 USA Summer Nationals. Meanwhile, NCAA runner-up Will Licon had the fastest time this morning in the event, posting a 1:58.50, which puts him among the top ten fastest American men ever in the event.
Nolan did swim the 100 free this morning. His time of 49.63 qualified for this evening’s A-final as the seventh-fastest time from preliminaries. That is just off his personal best of 49.50, which he swam earlier this week leading off Stanford’s 4×100 free relay.
Nolan simply may have not wanted to swim two events in the same day, having already been guaranteed a place in this evening’s 100 free final. It also could be an indication that he feels that he has a better chance of making the 2016 Olympic team in the 4×100 relay, where the top six finishers in the individual 100 free qualify, than in the 200 IM, where Phelps and Lochte seem likely to be the two US representatives in this event for the fourth straight Olympics.
Cal commit Andrew Seliskar, who swam the second-fastest 200 IM in high school history this March, also scratched the 200 IM. Seliskar seems to have been struggling this week, with times consistently slower than what he was swimming earlier this year.
Tom Jager could have been the greatest 200 IMer ever if his breastroke wasn’t like a cat trying to get out of a hot tub. He was a U.S. Champ at 100 free, fly and back. I mean he was legend and unreal at all three. I think Conger a no go 200 IM may be close to same reason.
Off topic but what is Congers best in the 200 I.M ? I feel like he could be a great 200 IMer as long as his breaststroke wasn’t too bad
His best long course 200 IM time in the USA Swimming database is a 2:10.86 from five years ago. His latest breaststroke time is from 2010…
He said his breaststroke is terrible. Enough to make his IM terrible.
The bottom line is, right this moment, David Nolan isn’t within a 3 wood of making the Rio squad in anything.
I hear his driver carries 350+… Really good around the greens too.
I hear his driver carries 350+… Really good around the greens too. So I think he’ll be in good shape.
Kid can chip it in from anywhere. They call him “Righty”
He is making a practical choice here. Nolan is a great talent. Like Shields two years ago, his talent in a 50 meter pool needs refinement. Look how far Shields has come now.
Nobody from the U.S. who isn’t named Phelps or Lochte is swimming the 200 IM in a Rio next year. Nolan’s best shot is too 6 relay outcome in the 100 or 200 free. If he is in the mid or high 48s tonite, he’s among the names in the mix for a spot. The smart thing is to be a realist. Conger knows his shots are the fly events and shooting for relay spots in 100 and 200 free. He’s a great backstroker, but the… Read more »
How can he win 9 golds like some people above think if he doesn’t swim the 200 IM?
5 years I expect he finally swims a fast 200 IM in long course and now he scratches the event the year he looks in his best shape ever?
That’s very disappointing. At least we could have seen the truth.
He will earn some dollars in the world cups in the next years and maybe I’m totally wrong but I don’t expect anything from Nolan now in long course.
He will be remembered as a high school/college buzz and a SCY monster.
But history is made in the big pool. Not in a bathtub.
Too bad.
Yeah… 🙁
The world Cup is moving to lcm I think
He could swim on the World Cup circuit make a killing! Along with that you would rewrite the short course meter world record book. Between his backstroke breaststroke butterfly he’s the all-around threat. And we all know his underwater are one of the best in the world.
Nolan could make the 4FR, 8FR, 100fly/200im, other individual. In that order of likelihood. He could make a handsome living for 2-5+ years on wc circuit and with some endorsements, being better looking and smarter than all the American guys, save Nathan. Dude can smile.
Can swim. Can get a job he’d like w his degree. He’ll be fine.
Well I think there’s no question who the #1 Nolan fan is around here.
Hate the guy.
but wouldn’t mind seeing him realize his full potential in the pool.