Raleigh, North Carolina- The drama at the ACC swimming and diving championship on Saturday evening was heightened by the unexpected disqualification of North Carolina State University swimmer Owen Lloyd.
Lloyd, an All-American senior, had just won the 1650-yard freestyle race with an impressive time of 14:37.04 when he was stripped of his title due to a controversial technicality. The ruling has caused a stir among fans, coaches and swimmers, with many calling it the “dumbest thing in swimming.”
The disqualification came after Lloyd celebrated his win by jumping onto the barrier and reaching over to hug his teammate Ross Dant, who had finished second in the race. The race officials deemed this as “interfering with another swimmer” even though Dant had already finished the race. According to the NCAA Swimming & Diving rulebook, any competitor who interferes with another swimmer during a race is subject to disqualification at the discretion of the referee.
The disqualification of Lloyd, who was visibly distraught and buried his head in his hands, has caused outrage among fans, coaches and even his own teammate, Dant. In an interview after the race, Dant called the ruling the “dumbest rule in swimming” and stated that Lloyd had beaten him “fair and square.” He also declared that he would not accept the first-place award and vouched for Lloyd to stand as the rightful winner.
The ruling has left many wondering why such a technicality was used to strip Lloyd of his title and why the emotions of a celebratory moment were not taken into consideration. Fans took to social media to show their support for Lloyd and criticize the decision made by the race officials. One fan on Twitter wrote, “What a ridiculous technicality. The amount of work and sacrifice that went into that win…I can’t comprehend how painful that must be. That’s wrong.”
This is not the first time ACC swimming and diving has faced criticism for their rulings. Some fans have even questioned the competence of the officials appointed for such prestigious events. Another fan voiced their frustration by saying, “The conference can’t get out of its own way when it comes to bad rulings. Sometimes I wonder if the NCAA has more sense in terms of the rulings they make. That’s saying something.”
The ruling has also caught the attention of the NCAA, who have yet to comment on the decision or provide any clarification on why it was made. This has only added to the frustration and disappointment among the swimming community. Many are left wondering how such a ruling can be made in a sport where individual performance is of utmost importance.
Despite the controversial ending to the race, Lloyd remained positive and determined to not let this setback define him. In a statement on Instagram, he said, “Upset, angry, and confused about what happened tonight, but not defeated…they can take away the points and the official win but they can never take away my drive, my passion, and my love for my team.”
As for Dant, he will always consider Lloyd as the true winner of the 1650-yard freestyle race. “He earned that [win], and that’s his emotion. That’s what we get in the sport of swimming when we do well…to have him disqualified is the dumbest thing ever,” Dant said in an interview.
The controversial decision made by race officials has sparked a debate on the role of technicalities in sports and their impact on individual performance.
