Owen Lloyd Disqualification Shows Swimming Rulebook Needs Another Update

Owen Lloyd -- Photo Courtesy: Jaylynn Nash

Owen Lloyd Disqualification Shows Swimming Rulebook Needs Another Update

College swimming has made mainstream news for all the wrong reasons: not for record-breaking performances and down-to-the-wire team finishes during conference championship season but for a controversial, dramatic disqualification that robbed a deserving swimmer of a title. A technicality had erased the finest moment of a swimmer’s career to that point.

On the final night of the ACC Championships, NC State senior Owen Lloyd out-dueled teammate Ross Dant to win the 1650 freestyle. After battling more accomplished teammates Dant and Will Gallant for the past few seasons, this was a breakout moment for Lloyd, and he celebrated accordingly, climbing on the lane line before falling into Dant’s lane.

The win was Lloyd’s first ever at the conference level, having previously placed as high as third twice at the 2024 meet and once the year before. He had dropped four seconds from his lifetime best. He had raced perhaps the most physically and certainly the most mentally grueling race in swimming and executed to perfection. The outpouring of emotion was only natural.

Moments later, the PA announcer called out that Lloyd was disqualified for crossing into another swimmer’s lane during competition, with a handful of swimmers still finishing their 66 laps during the winner’s celebration. A devastated Lloyd collapsed to the ground while fans inside the Greensboro Aquatic Center booed the decision. This was not some officiating call that benefitted one team at another’s expense, not with NC State having already locked up the team title. This one was just unfortunate.

Dant reluctantly donned the headset for the traditional winner’s interview, and he firmly stood up for his teammate while blasting the rule that cost Lloyd the win.

Ross Dant is reluctantly recognized as the ACC champion in the 1650 freestyle — Photo Courtesy: Jaylynn Nash

“I think that’s the dumbest rule in swimming” Dant told ACC Network. “Owen beat me fair and square. He should be on that podium. He was excited. That’s a huge swim for him. He earned that. He earned that, and that’s his emotion. That’s what we get in the sport of swimming when we do well. We train all year for a moment like that, and to have him disqualified I think is the dumbest thing ever.”

In the ensuing moments, Dant promised that he would give the award for winning the race to Lloyd, and in an interview with The Athletic, the two Wolfpack swimmers confirmed that the exchange took place. Yes, media outlets that practically never report on college swimming outside of exceptional circumstances weighed in on Lloyd’s misfortune, and that’s because Dant was right: the rule is dumb.

On one hand, the official’s ruling was correct. NCAA Rule 2.5.b states, “A swimmer who changes lanes during a heat shall be disqualified.” Technically, the heat was still ongoing for several swimmers but not for Dant, who was the only swimmer Lloyd could have interfered with by entering his lane.

Such a disqualification would never happen in a sprint or middle-distance race, where the margins are miniscule compared to the almost-one-minute margin by which Lloyd beat the final swimmer in his heat. Ironically, a DQ in a 50 free is much easier to stomach. One race is less than 20 seconds and can be repeated numerous times in one day. A 14-plus-minute mile? That might take days to recover from.

Simply, Rule 2.5.b exists to prevent swimmers from actively hindering their competition. It was never intended to disqualify swimmers who celebrate in the lanes of also-finished swimmers. This situation is akin to the one backstrokers faced until two years ago, when the rule preventing a swimmer from resubmerging at the finish caused numerous high-profile DQs, including that of 50 backstroke world champion Justin Ress.

That particular DQ was overturned, but for a long-term solution, the rule was adjusted. That was the obvious decision. No swimmer was gaining an advantage or hurting a competitor by resubmerging. Same situation here. Carve out an exception — call it the Owen Lloyd rule — so that no swimmer again has to deal with such a devastating outcome after such a seemingly-triumphant occasion.

Finally, let’s note one silver lining: Lloyd is still qualified for the NCAA Championships, set to excel in the 500 and 1650 free at the national meet later this month in Indianapolis. His 1650 mark of 14:37.04 would have ranked him No. 2 in the country, but his midseason time of 14:41.32 sits sixth. The Pac-12 Championships are still to take place this week, but it’s highly unlikely that three swimmers aside from Arizona State’s Zalan Sarkany and USC’s Krzysztof Chmielewski will beat that time and knock Lloyd out of the top heat of the mile for the NCAA Championships.

Whatever the official results show, Lloyd knows that he is capable of a swim at the elite level he showed at ACCs, and he will have his chance at redemption as he chases a national top-three finish at the NCAA Championships.

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Official

1 month ago

I think he should be DQd. What’s wrong with waiting until all swimmers finish or climb out and celebrate?

-192

NC Swim Fan

1 month ago

Reply to Official

Your comment clearly shows that you have never won anything in your life. After winning something like that you have worked years for you are going to be excited. Not to mention he went 1-2 with his brother and teammate he’s gonna wanna enjoy that moment with him. This kind of mindset is what is wrong with swimming.

Micky p

1 month ago

Reply to NC Swim Fan

He didn’t win anything.

-55

Kerri

1 month ago

Reply to Official

That’s not really the question here though. The real question in this case is: what’s wrong with celebrating if it’s not impeding any other swimmers’ swim?

Christopher P

1 month ago

Reply to Official

What a loser comment.

tom

1 month ago

Reply to Official

I don’t follow swimming, so it doesn’t actually matter much to me personally. But with rules/technicalities like this, I’d have no interest in following it either. Let alone join the sport. That’s a terrible perspective for any sport, especially because this game went viral for it.

A sport is only as successful as the amount of viewers/participants it attracts. If you get disqualified for showing you’re human, that doesn’t attract anyone. That’s precisely what wrong with the rule, and quite logically so too.

Ricky

1 month ago

Reply to Official

Agree 100%. I have never had a problem with swimmers congratulating each other or even hugging over the lane line. But this knucklehead entered into another swimmer’s lane. Maybe he needs to work on his self control.

-36

John

1 month ago

Reply to Official

I hate he got dq’d. It’s a crappy rule. But another issue is in other events rules were broken but ignored by said judges who dq’d him. So if they are being sticklers for the rules. It must be across the board. Not just when it pleases them

Molac Marius

1 month ago

Reply to Official

demonic phaarisees did DQ Jesus for healing Saturday … they still do
Law is made for men … not the other way around.
Spirit of the law … NEVER BROKEN … is to not disturb others.
His team-mate, Ross Dant, the only distyrbance Lloyd could have caused, already finished the race … therefore COULD NOT be disturbed. Ross Dant is a man … was happy for Lloyd and celebrated together … and kept defending him after that idiotic DQ.

Halo

1 month ago

The rule is fine it’s thebureaucratic interpretation that’s the problem. The spirit of this rule was not followed…or was the real problem the judge didn’t like the celebration?

SwimDad

1 month ago

Reply to Halo

Agree this was not the intent of the rule. So per their logic if he had reached over to shake his teammates hand which is normal he would have been DQ for crossing the lane line. Please. Glad to see the support from his teammate.

Jerry Saunders

1 month ago

Because of this ridiculousness, Owen Lloyd has now been OFFICIALLY awarded “2024 Collegiate Swimmer of the Year” check out the article. I can’t post a link here but google it. “Life & News” officially recognized Owen Lloyd as the champion of that race and named him the Collegiate Swimmer of the Year. Way to make things right!

Critchley Colin

1 month ago

Pathetic. The officials are there for the swimmers, not the other way around. I was disqualified when qualifying for an international squad in the 80s. The glee from the official was unforgettable and as it turned out fictitious anyway. It changed my world forever. Thousands and thousands of hours and dedication for the over reach of rules and officials. Time for the whole thing to be overalled.

John

1 month ago

Reply to Critchley Colin

Maybe because you need to be disqualified. Did you celebrate too after winning and supposedly interrupted someone? Did the same thing happen to you? If not then stop comparing.Rules like that needs to be changed. As a matter of fact, when rules are not specific, it should be changed. Rules are made for people to follow, yes, but when rules becomes the reason of unfairness, then it should be changed. This is the problem with people. When you see flaws on a specific rules, then add another rule or change it.

Last edited 1 month ago by John

-2

John

1 month ago

Reply to Critchley Colin

Just because you have been disqualified does not mean he should be too. The world does not revolve around you. Pathetic!

-2

Critchley Colin

1 month ago

Pathetic. The officials are there for the swimmers, not the other way around. I was disqualified when qualifying for an international squad in the 80s. The glee from the official for the infringement was unforgettable and as it turned out fictitious allegation anyway. It changed my world forever. Thousands and thousands of hours and dedication, only for the over reach of rules and officials to destroy that small window swimmers get. Time for the whole thing to be overalled.
(Ignore my previous posted draft)

LiaChang

1 month ago

Reply to Critchley Colin

What was your dq for, the same thing, going into another lane?

Tom

1 month ago

But men can beat women in the sport? And we celebrate that?

-1

block boy

10 days ago

The fact that people personally attack people who agree with the decision is telling. Simply don’t go in other lanes until the heat is over, how hard is this concept? MY USA swimming coach would have no remorse for me if I did that.

-1

Leander

10 days ago

Reply to block boy

Or just stay off the lane lines while celebrating?