2016 Trials Throwback: Men’s 400 Free was The Connor-Conor Show

Conor Dwyer (left) and Connor Jaeger after qualifying for Rio in the 400 free. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Each day during the pre-scheduled days of the 2020 US Olympic Trials, Swimming World will take its readers back four years to the 2016 Trials in Omaha to recap each event, and will offer some insight into what the events will look like in 2021.

The U.S. men have put together strong performances in the 400-meter freestyle at the Olympic Trials over the years.

In recent memory, it seems like there is a University of Michigan swimmer (or Club Wolverine swimmer) in contention every time, thanks in part to Peter Vanderkaay, though there have plenty of other contenders as well.

Looking back to the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials, it was again a Michigan swimmer again in contention, with a lot of young upstarts. But in the end, no one could beat the Connor-Conor show.

Connor Jaeger had been a dominating force in the 1500 freestyle and was expected to make the team easily in that event. But before that, he had a tuneup race in the 400 free, a race he had shown major improvement in since making the team in the mile in 2012.

Connor Jaeger; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Another Conor, this one Conor Dwyer, was also a 2012 Olympian and finished fifth in the 400 free in London. In 2018, he would test positive for a banned substance, an adverse finding that landed him a suspension. With the news came that of his retirement.

Back in 2016, Connor and Conor were definitely the favorites heading into the 400 free final though neither one of them had the top seed after prelims.

Both were returning Olympians and were medal contenders in multiple events.

Jaeger, swimming for Club Wolverine, was by far the most dominant U.S. swimmer in the mile and was expected to punch his ticket later in the week in that event, no matter what happened in the 400 free.

Dwyer, swimming for Trojan Swim Club, also was favored to make the team in another event, the 200 free, making this race almost a tuneup for the rest of the week, though this was probably Dwyer’s best chance to finish top two. But, of course, the 200 free had more spots because of relays.

Conor Dwyer; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Townley Haas from Nova had transformed himself into a contender in both the 400 and 200 freestyle events at the 2016 Trials. He was seven years younger than Dwyer and five years younger than Jaeger, ready to usher in a new era of middle distance in the U.S.

Clark Smith was just a year older than Haas, and both would go on to be national champions at Texas. His specialty was the mile.

Zane Grothe had the fastest prelims time in the event and was looking to unseat the Connor-Conor show.

Meanwhile, even younger were True Sweetser and Grant Shoults, who both made the finals and were headed to Stanford together, while Michael McBroom rounded out the finals.

The Race

In the end, no one could stop the Connor-Conor show at the 2016 Trials, though they weren’t ahead for most of the race. Smith started with a strong surge, but it was the finish that counted. Both used a strong finish to earn Olympic spots. Jaeger touched first in 3:43.79 to clinch a spot in Rio. Dwyer finished second in 3:44.66 and would join Jaeger.

Haas finished third in 3:45.04, ahead of Grothe (3:45.60).

Smith, who was ahead at the halfway point, ended up fifth in 3:45.74.

Results

Connor Jaeger, 3:43.79
Conor Dwyer, 3:44.55
Townley Haas, 3:45.04
Zane Grothe, 3:45.60
Clark Smith, 3:45.74
True Sweetser, 3:50.71
Grant Shoults, 3:51.25
Michael McBroom, 3:52.60

On to Rio

While it was Jaeger who won at the 2016 Trials, it was actually Dwyer who finished a little better at the Olympics.

Just missing out on a medal, Dwyer finished fourth in the 400 free, though he would go on to win the bronze in the 200 free and also won gold on the 4×200 free relay for the U.S., along with Haas.

Jaeger wasn’t far behind. He finished fifth in the 400 free, but like Dwyer, this wasn’t his best event. Jaeger went on to claim the silver medal in the 1500 free, his only Olympic medal.

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