North Carolina State swimmer Owen Lloyd finished first in the men’s 1650 freestyle event at the ACC Championships on Saturday night. He did not win.
The senior All-American was disqualified for “interfering with another swimmer” even though he did not interfere with another swimmer. His N.C. State teammate, Ross Dant, ended up being crowned as the conference champion despite finishing nearly two seconds behind Lloyd.
Lloyd was called for interference as result of his post-race celebration. As is pretty common, he mounted the lane rope. However, he lost his balance and fell into Lloyd’s lane.
— – (@Spicoli_____) February 26, 2024
It was deemed in violation of NCAA rule because not every competitor had completed their swim.
One rule reads as follows but does not seem to apply:
ARTICLE 1.
a. Any competitor who interferes with another swimmer during a race shall be disqualified from that race, subject to the discretion of the referee. If a swimmer is fouled by another swimmer, including interference by an outside entity, or due to facility equipment failure during a preliminary heat of an event, the referee may allow that swimmer to repeat the race at a time not later than 30 minutes after the last heat of the last event in which the swimmer is competing during that session of the meet. If a foul occurs during a final race, the referee may order the race swum over if, in the referee’s opinion, sufficient unfairness prevailed. No person shall be required, as a consequence of this rule, to swim with fewer than 30 minutes’ rest between a repeated race and any of that person’s regularly scheduled races.
b. A swimmer who changes lanes during a heat shall be disqualified.
c. Any interference with a meet official in the performance of that person’s duties will be considered for disciplinary action by the referee or meet committee.
d. If a swimmer, who is one of the first three swimmers in a relay, crosses the occupied lane of another team, the relay of that swimmer shall be disqualified. Swimmers should exit the pool directly at the end of their lane.
e. If flyover starts are being utilized during the event, swimmers shall not cross the occupied lane of another swimmer/team to exit the course. Swimmers shall exit directly at the end of their lane.
f. Pulling on a lane line to assist motion is not permitted.
A different section in the rulebook might better relate to this situation:
A competitor who enters the water in the area in which a race is being conducted before all contestants have completed the race may be disqualified from their next scheduled competition in that meet and, in addition, may disqualify all of their team’s entrants in that race.
Neither rule addresses a scenario in which a swimmer enters into the lane of another athlete that has already finished. In fact, because Dant had already completed his swim, he was not interfered with by the literal definition of interference. Lloyd was disqualified anyway and was extremely emotional after the ruling was confirmed.
Dant was furious with the decision and called it “the dumbest thing ever.” He even said that he is going to give his teammate his medal.
NC State swimmer Owen Lloyd was disqualified after winning the 1650 free at yesterday’s ACC Championships.
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) February 26, 2024
Here’s Ross Dant, who finished second and was crowned the winner, sticking up for Lloyd. The violation for “interfering with another swimmer” is at the end. pic.twitter.com/Ix0cM9y1GJ
To see Owen Lloyd be disqualified on a technicality — that is not clearly defined by the rulebook — is a real shame. The ACC officials robbed him of a conference title because of a trivial and inconsequential mishap (falling the wrong way off of the lane) during his well-deserved celebration.
Dant’s name will be listed as the 2024 ACC champion in the mile for the rest of time. Even he believes that should not be the case. It is a real shame to see it go down in such a disappointing manner.