Jack Conger‘s been growing a fan-base since high school, wowing us with his versatile 50-500 free and 100-200 backstroke. Conger could do almost anything. At the 2012 US Olympic Trials, Conger, only 17 at the time, swam to 5th place in the 200m backstroke (1:58.9).
Conger’s back in 2016 swimming 100-200 butterfly in the shadow of the greatest athlete on earth, Michael Phelps. Conger’s in the pocket, an easy pick to make the U.S. Olympic Team in those events. His recent in-season 51.7 100m fly at the Longhorn Invite promises so much.
Last summer, Conger shaved and tapered three times. His third taper netted a 1:54 200m butterfly behind Phelps at the 2015 U.S. Nationals. When a swimmer can rest/shave three times, they’ve got a serious base of work behind them. I’m extremely bullish on Conger because I know he’s got 10 years of intense base training (exceptional age group development to elite level conditioning), and all intelligence points to him being a workout grinder, someone who brings it daily.
Conger Predictions:
Conger needs to hit his taper…but I think he’s so talented he could be a little off his taper and still hit most of these times and places at the 2016 US Olympic Trials in Omaha.
200 fly? 1:53 – makes the individual behind Phelps.
100 fly? 50.8 – makes the individual behind Phelps.
100 free? Conger barely cracks 48 seconds, gets on the 4×100 relay. ***This is the one prediction that’s out there. I think Conger can do it, but I know I’m pushing it, thinking light-outs performance, a perfect swim.
200 free? Conger’s got a 1:45+ swim, if he wants it. I think he makes the 4×200 relay.
What do you think?
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
These predictions were so off that its hard to believe.
seems like Longhorns get some extra love by Mel.
they seem to be that good too – well deserved .
Deserved. Eddie gets his boys ready for big meets.
He hasn’t really had the breakout meet that is bound to happen with his talent and motivation. He’s done a good job of staying positive when things don’t go his way. Think it’s a crapshoot between him and shields in the 100, but I give the edge to shields at trials. Other than that I think Mel’s predictions are right on and he will be a critical part of us relays over the next quadrennial.
200 fly is the future for Conger as his premiere event. In my opinion the only reason Schooling beat him at NCAAs in the 200 is because of far superior underwaters. He’s better than Jo in the big pool. 1:53.8 at trials and 1:53.2 at Olympics, just missing the podium. He will also be a part of the 4×100 and maybe 4×200 relay. In the 100 I think Shields is just a bit better than him for that second spot, but it’s a toss up.
Mel! You hit my prediction!
I went for 1:53.85 200 fly
50. 79 100 fly
47.95 100 free
Again, BIGGEST QUESTION MARK IN THE ARTICLE…. does conger swim the 100 free past prelims? What if he goes 48.6?
Will he that is not fast enough to get on the olympic relay through politics. Unless 6th place goes 48.9 to get on the team.
200 fly is pretty stacked and he WILL need to be 100% to make the team in it. I think.
obviously, ideal scenario, he goes under 48.3 in prelims and gets a good nap in between sessions and comes back to beat Tom at night. Phelps+Conger make the team in the 200fly
Conger will finish 3rd in the 100 fly behind MP and Shields.
He will finish second in the 200 fly behind MP. If MP swims that event.
He must only swim the 100 and 200 free prelims as these 2 events confict with his fly events.
He’s never disappointing in relays and the US coaches should take him at least in the 4X100 free relay.
conflict
It looks like not everybody knows the trials schedule so I post it again.
http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=2124&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en
The 100 free semifinals are just before the 200 fly final.
Why he would waste his best chance of olympic qualification by swimming a 100 free semifinal just before? 😯
It would be crazystupidtrumpistnobrain, in other words one of the worst decisions ever.
It’s less dangerous for the 200 free as the 200 free final is before the 200 fly semifinals.
But it would mean less energy overall for his 200 fly.
The goal is to qualify. His best chance is the 200 fly. He must maximize his chances. And both fly… Read more »
I agree with Bobo, King Cong should only swim prelims for the free events.
I think Jack goes-
48.3 100 Free
1:45 mid 200 Free
50.7 100 Fly
1:53.2 200 Fly
GO KING CONG!!
He isn’t phelps lochte Franklin or ledecky.
If he went 48.3 or 1.45 in prelims he can’t pull out. He doesn’t have that ‘superstar’ power.
If he does them times he will have / need to swim all rounds.
Conger is going to have 12 swims.
He’s young and ready.
Let’s stop thinking he isn’t good enough to roll with Adrian/lochte/phelps etc I hope he beats them all then the future of USA swimming has finally risen.
I would rather have someone conquer the ‘Giants’ than be given the crown because legends retired.
I don’t understand why he can’t pull out after prelims? It doesn’t matter if he isn’t on the “superstar” level as some others… Conger is the definition of a team player, that 48.3 would definitely be a 47 low and the 1:45 would be a 1:44 low. Yes, Conger is young and ready, but his main focus is to qualify in the butterfly events. Tom won’t be swimming the 100 and 200 free, as the fly events are his focus. King Cong needs 100% focus on the fly events (the 100 mostly) in order to go to Rio. On the other hand, Conger should do whatever he, Eddie, and Kris feel is right. HOOK ‘EM HORNS!
(I’m calling it… Read more »
If he isn’t satisfied with his prelim times in either free event, then it would make sense to keep swimming through to finals, as a way to further his position on the relay standings.
When you consider the new rule, every relay swimmer must Swim.
Let’s look at the 4×200: lochte phelps Dwyer are a given regardless of prelims etc. Phelps might not swim finals so (if conger) pulls out then 4 others swimmers will qualify, what gives conger the right to bypass all these swimmers and join the big ‘3’. Because the other swimers have to swims and more than likely won’t swim any other event.
If conger doesn’t swim 100/200free in finals he doesn’t swim in relays, FACT.
Let’s say josh Schneider is 6th. It doesn’t matter if conger is 1 sec faster he has to swim prelims and if there’s 5 other guys + phelps and lochte he isn’t… Read more »
Jack Conger will beat Chad… Mark my words.
If Josh is sixth in the 100 free, wouldn’t it make more sense to choose Conger over him? (Sorry Josh)
Josh will only have a chance in the 50 besides the 100 free, which would be really hard for him to make. But Jack will most likely make the 200 fly, so it makes sense to take the faster swimmer who has already made the team.
Keep in mind that Jack tapered/shaved for three meets last year… It just doesn’t make sense that he’d go 49.28 in 2014 (a bad year for him), then barely improve the next year (probably his best year ever). If Conger goes 1:45.0 in prelims, and… Read more »
My point is ….
All relay swimmers must swim with new rules.
So let’s say 3/4/5/6th of 100/200free DON’T have any other swims.
They have to swim.
So the first and second placed swimmers will swim finals… My point is conger does not get a free pass over phelps and lochte or Dwyer or Adrian or anyone dropping 47.3 (Ervin 2013 for example) Hence he doesn’t swim. Regardless .
Phelps or conger 200free??
No prelims. The other guys have to swim.
You can’t have 6 100/200freestylers that don’t include phelps/grevers/lochte (4×100) and think conger gets a free pass.
Conger beating Chad.
Dream on, no offence.
Interesting note: He was not fully taper for Wugs(watch the video again). Which means his 47.75 and 47.95 splits weren’t under fully taper.
I don’t understand why are you keep saying he is not going to beat Chad/Cesh and Phelps.
I don’t think it is his goal to beat them.
He has his rival, you know? 🙂
He is 21, made the Olympics team, made the Olympics final, contribute to the team will be an unbelievable experience for him, for this summer.
What his goal isn’t to win an Olympic individual medal ?
Well Chad cseh and phelps stand in his way.
I actually don’t know his goal for the 200 fly.
I think right now all the US swimmers only have one thought in their mind, made the Olympics Team.
And sure, Chad is standing in everyone’s way. 😛
I would be shocked if he won a medal in 2Fly. Phelps, Le Clos, and Cseh are all primed for 1:52 lows or faster.
We’ll see what happens. I just really don’t like Chad, but I feel like Jack’s had more improvement room than the other butterfly swimmers, who’ve grown up swimming fly as their main stroke.
Also, the schedule shouldn’t be too hard on Jack, so if he feels there’s a need to swim prelims and finals, so be it.
MP managed these same exact doubles, I am sure Conger can handle them as well…
I almost think it’s more likely he completely misses the team than he makes it in all four events. It’s easier for me to think of guys that might nab him in each, I guess. (Though I would bet on him making it in the 2 fly.)