Back in the day, NCAA Champions often went on to win Olympic medals, or at the very least, make the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. That’s not the case anymore, however, there are a some swim stars emerging from the college ranks that have a great shot at capturing the spotlight in Omaha, Ryan Murphy, Jack Conger, David Nolan, Will Licon and Caeleb Dressel.
Cal Golden Bear Ryan Murphy appears to have the best shot in backstroke. Longhorns Jack Conger and Will Licon are moving on butterfly and IM. Stanford’s David Nolan has finally developed into the star swimmer we hoped for since his stunning high school years, and his 1:39.3 200 yard IM was our audience’s top NCAA Record from our A3 Poll. Finally, Caleleb Dressel just keeps getting faster, missing the 50 yard free American Record by a mere point 01.
Of this talented crew, who will make the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha?
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.
Unfortunately I did not see when swimswam tweeted this article so I did not get to share my thoughts with all the wonderful, passionate fans. Although, me not seeing this post was probably a blessing in disguise since I had a very busy week of school work.
Anyways, since this thread is virtually dead, there is really no reason to hold back.
Whenever I picture my favorite swimmers making the Olympic team, I always picture them with packed schedules like Lochte and Phelps. However, I forget that they are to of the rarest and most extraordinary swimmers on the planet. (Other swimmers in that camp in this order: Laslo Cseh, Kosuke Hagino, Chad Le Clos). However there are swimmers… Read more »
Loved it Samh ! very good analysis and passion for the Us Team . I like your vieuws and intuitions concerning most future Us Olympians .
SamH, You’ll probably never read this, but thanks for all your effort with this post. I agree, it would be great if SwimSwam had some kind of a notification system to let commenters know when there are replies to something they’ve written.
It sounds like you’re mostly saying that the guys who swam so great at this year’s NCAA meet, with a few notable exceptions, would probably have the best chance of making the Rio Team in the 4×100 and 4×200, and I think everybody generally agrees with you there. The US NEEDS them to be great in the 100 and 200 free anyway!
I guess I disagree that so many athletes should expand their event schedules for Trials… Read more »
Thanks for responding and thanks for your insight and criticism in such a nice way. So many people on here respond with, “Are you out of your mind!? You obviously have not been watching swimming!”
For one, I stuck to NCAA guys not only because the video is about them, but because most of the veteran swimmers are already pretty set in their events. I would say Tyler Clary try out the 200 free since it has been improving and he came in clutch at SC worlds, but already has arguably the toughest schedule. I guess Townley Haas was also an exception to the criteria.
Two, I guess I did not think three or four swims a whole lot,… Read more »
ErvinForTheWin, I was only speaking of the Olympics, actually, and the fact that the US won every 4×100 free relay they participated in until 2000, which Hulk pointed out was the beginning of the end of US domination in that event.
Hulk, You make a very persuasive argument. I just want to add a few thoughts to the discussion:
1. This same period in which the US has struggled in the 4×100 free relay has also been one where we’ve consistently won the 4×200 free relay (including the 2004 race in which Australia had the Olympic Champion anchoring their team). The US has historically been dominant in all 3 relays, but the one in which we’ve been LEAST dominant until the period in question was the 4×200. Another interpretation of the situation might be that the focus of US swimming programs has shifted to middle distance freestyle instead of sprint freestyle.
2. If you were to make a list of… Read more »
U maybe meant the 400 medley that Usa usually wins at Big meets ( except for Barcelona of course ) .
I realize this post is winding down… but here’s some other nonsense I pulled just goofing around online today.
It’s the top 8 (and anyone who swam a leg in the 400 relay at the Olympics) from all the OT since 1988, along with their event schedules from OT, listed in my perceived order of ability and a short summary.
1988- Gold
Biondi- 50/100/1fly/200
Jacobs- 100/200/50
Jager- 50/100
Dalby- 100/200
Lang- 100/50/200
Jordan- 100/200/50
Gaines- 100/50
McCadam- 100/50
–> 6/6 guys who made the team were sprint free specialists, all 6 would have finaled with their OT times
1992- Gold
Biondi- 100/50/1fly
Olsen- 100/200/50
Hudepohl- 100/200/50
Jager-… Read more »
Well done HULK – this was an interesting list of teams from previous Olympics . Your point is far from being wrong . We will anyway see from this summer who is performing better for those future relays .
Very interesting indeed. I thought Nolan would be focusing on 100 free by now, but he stuck to the strokes through college (sprinting would probably gel better with his academic schedule).
Also – you can sprint multiple strokes. Which is probably more fun/engaging than doing 50/100 fr at every meet. See: Morozov, Manaudou, Schoeman, Bovell, etc. What’s hard is optimizing a 200 back AND a 100 free.
Lastly a little correction: I think a couple times you’ve referred to Mack Horton (d-guy) when you’re thinking of Kyle Chalmers (sprinter)
Yes. Sorry. Chalmers. Brainfart.
I’m so glad you responded to Hulk’s comment, because I didn’t understand why he was suggesting Mack Horton would make a good football player! Now his comment makes a LOT more sense and I agree with him, Kyle Chalmers WOULD probably have been pressured to play football if he were from the US! LOL!
I’m retracting all of my times because they seem really hard to achieve. I still think those are the people that will make it for each individual event and the relays. I also think that the medley relay world record has the highest chance of falling.
Bobthebuilderrocks – no way the USA makes those relay times. The 4×100 med Relay is going to stand for a long time IMO
Dressel is an underrated 200 freestler he has a 1:48 long course pb
Michael going faster than Lochte flat start might be too unreasonable, but I’ve learned that I shouldn’t doubt the GOAT. I never said that Cordes will be faster than Gyurta, I still think Gyurta is going to win the 200 breast, and I think Hagini is going to be 4:06ish. Clary probably won’t break 4:09, but I think he should focus only on the 200 back.