ABC News(RIO DE JANEIRO) — The 2016 U.S. Olympic Swim Team is possibly delivering “one of the best all-time performances” by any U.S. team in any sport at this summer’s Rio Games, Olympic gold medalist Conor Dwyer said.
“From the beginning of the meet, we started lighting it up,” Dwyer said Thursday on ABC News’ Good Morning America of the team’s more than 20 medals, and counting. “It might be one of the best all-time performances that Team USA has ever thrown together, in any sport and including the pool, so we’ve just been lights out.”
“The ball’s been rolling and everyone just seems to be getting their hand on the wall, top three, and getting on the podium,” said Dwyer, who himself won a bronze in the 200-meter freestyle and a gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay in Rio.
Dwyer said he and his U.S. swimming roommates alone have won eight medals combined: five gold, two silver and one bronze. At least two of Dwyer’s roommates — Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte — are still competing in events that could garner even more medals.
It was Dwyer, a 27-year-old Illinois native, and his roommate, Phelps, who made headlines during their gold medal-winning relay race when Phelps came to Dwyer, nicknamed “Diddy” by his teammates, in need of help.
Dwyer had raced first in Tuesday’s men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay event and was out of the pool. Just before Phelps was set to begin his lap, his cap broke apart.
“I’m cheering and I got a tap on my shoulder from Michael saying, ‘Diddy, Diddy, my cap broke,’” Dwyer recalled. “He looked a little rattled so I handed him this one, turned it inside out.”
“I think it’s the first time a cap has swum two legs in a relay so Mike owes me one for giving him my cap and it fit well,” he said.
Dwyer has now completed his 2016 Olympics run and is planning to soak up the spirit of Rio. By his side will be his contingent of 21 family and friends who made the trip to cheer him on.
“They were going nuts,” he said of his cheer team’s “CD” and “USA” chants. “It’s always nice to have a family and friends supporting you, behind you, before you hop off into the pool.”
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