Conor Dwyer Bio: Olympics, Lifestyle, Awards & Girlfriend

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The debate about effort and natural talent is eternal. But the universal truth stands for those who stand for extra effort all along the way regardless of one’s potential. Conor Dwyer is the picture-perfect exemplary here. 

From an average swimmer to the one with seventeen international medals in the resume, Conor is one heck of a competition to everyone. With an average comparison, Conor’s career was short-lived. 

Indeed, it’s what you guys are thinking. Despite the glorified career and motivating factor, he stumbled into a life’s boulder.

Currently, he has retired from the games. However, he is still one of the fastest swimmers. 

Conor Dwyer
Conor Dwyer/Instagram

Well, let’s dive into his quick facts and other juicy details. 

Quick Facts

Full Name Conor James Dwyer
Date of Birth January 10, 1989 
Birth Place Winnetka, Illinois, U.S.
Nick Name Diddy
Religion Unknown
Nationality American  
Ethnicity White
Zodiac Sign  Capricorn
Age 35 years old
Height 1.96 meters (6’5″)
Weight 89 kg (196 lb)
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Green
Build Athletic 
Father’s Name Patrick Dwyer
Mother’s Name Jeanne Dwyer
Siblings Four siblings; (twin brother) Spencer Dwyer, P.J Dwyer, Pati Dwyer, and Brenden Dwyer 
Education Loyola Academy, Wilmette
University of Iowa
The University of Florida
Marital Status Unmarried 
Girlfriend Kelsey Merritt
Kids None
Profession Former swimmer
Club  Lake Forest Swim Club
Gator Swim Club
North Baltimore Aquatic Club
National Team  United States
Strokes  Freestyle, individual medley
Team USA Profile Conor Dwyer
Net Worth  Around $5 million
Social Media Instagram, Twitter
Merch  Tokyo Olympics 2021
Last Update  March, 2024

Body Measurements 

Conor Dwyer is a man with a toned masculine body. He depicts fair skin and black hair, with green eyes to compliment his look.

Additionally, he towers at the height of 1.96 meters (6 feet 5 inches) while weighing 89 kg (196 lb). 

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Workout and Diet Regime

Alongside having a critical mindset, Conor is the man who became what he is today due to his constant hard work. He indeed follows a rigorous training schedule. Well, he is mostly into his core exercises. 

Mostly during his competitions, Conor used to have strength training from 6 to 8 a.m in the gym.

It was often followed by Olympic lifting or functional mobility training from 8:30 to 10 a.m, and he would again train 2 to 5 in the afternoon. 

Dwyer during his training
Dwyer, during his training/Instagram.

In the meantime, Conor would foam roll two to three times a week at night for the regeneration process. Likewise, he would also stay in an ice tank for 10 to 20
minutes and have massaged once or twice a week. 

Most importantly, he stated that he would try to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. 

Talking about his diet, Conor makes sure to consume about 5,000 to 6,000 calories a day. For this, he eats four steady meals a day with some protein shakes as snacks.

As per Conor, his favorite food is sweet potatoes, turkey burgers, sandwiches, and oatmeal with fruit. 

Conor Dwyer | Early Life

Conor Dwyer (fully named Conor James Dwyer) was born on January 10, 1989, to Jeanne Dwyer and Patrick Dwyer. The Olympian was born in Winnetka, Illinois, the U.S., under the sun sign of Capricorn. 

Furthermore, Conor is the second oldest child of the family. His other siblings are P.J Dwyer, Pati Dwyer, and Brenden Dwyer, while Spencer Dwyer is his twin brother. 

Family Details 

Conor’s father, Mr. Patrick Dwyer, works in a financial company, moving on to his family background. At the same time, Conor’s mom, Jeanne Dwyer, was an all-American swimmer for Florida State University. 

No doubt, Jeanne has been a huge inspiration for Conor to start with swimming. In fact, she is also the very one who taught him to swim, and hence, it is safe to say that she was the first coach in Conor’s life. 

Both of Conor’s parents are avid swimmers, and the duo swims about four times a week in an aquatic center in Evanston, Illinois. 

Similarly, with his siblings, Conor maintains a healthy relationship with each of them, and they are all together to support him. Starting with his very own twin brother, Spencer Dwyer, he is a graduate of the University of Indiana. 

At present, he resides in Minneapolis, and the brother duo is good friends of Allison Schmitt, new Conor’s training partner in Baltimore).

Likewise, his other brother, Patrick Dwyer Jr., aka PJ, is a graduate of Loyola University. He currently resides in Chicago with his parents. 

Another one of Conor’s brothers is Brenden Dwyer, who is a college student at Saint Louis University. Not to mention Conor’s one and only sister, Pati Dwyer, who is a high school graduate from Loyola Academy. 

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Conor Dwyer | Amateur Career and Education

Initially, Conor Dwyer attended Loyola Academy, which is a Catholic high school in Wilmette, Illinois. Swimming for Conor started early in his childhood, at the age of two. Indeed, his mother taught him and helped him flourish in the arena.

 For four years, he swam for the Loyola Academy Ramblers high school swim team. By his senior year, Conor became the league champion in the 200-yard freestyle and stood as the runner-up for the 500-yard freestyle. 

Before his high school ended, Conor bagged all-section and all-league honors. Also, before being his team’s most valuable swimmer, Conor was an average swimmer. Well, those were also the days when he couldn’t attract any colleges nor any scholarship deals. 

In the meantime, Conor also played baseball, lacrosse, and water polo besides swimming.

Before his high school graduation in 2007, he had gathered quite a few achievements in water polo. His water polo achievements are third-team all-state, first-team all-section, all-region, and all-league honors.

College Days 

At first, Conor enrolled at the University of Iowa. During the time, he swam for the Iowa Hawkeyes swimming and diving team.

With them, he attended both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Big Ten Conference competition. 

Conor with his brothers
Conor with his brothers/Instagram

Following his second year, Conor transferred from Iowa to the University of Florida. While in Florida, he played under the supervision of Gregg Troy for their Florida Gators swimming and diving team. 

Alongside the team, he played in NCAA and Southeastern Conference (SEC) competitions. By the time of his college graduation in 2011, he had garnered twelve All-American honors and three NCAA titles.

Apart from his swimming lane, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. 

Conor Dwyer | Professional Career

National Championships

After numerous national championships till his college days, Conor starred in the 2010 ConocoPhillips United States National Championships that was held in Irvine, California.

As a part of the U.S. national team, he stood fifth in the 200-meter freestyle, fifth in the 200-meter individual medley and sixth in the 400-meter freestyle.

The next year in 2011, he was again part of the ConocoPhillips United States National Championships held in Palo Alto, California. This time, Conor won the 200-meter individual medley while he was second in the 400-meter individual medley.

Following it, Conor featured in the 2011 Pan American Games that took place in Guadalajara, Mexico. During the game, he collected four medals. 

World Championships

Initially, Conor played in the 2011 World Aquatics Championships held in Shangai, China. Right then, he bagged the gold medal, and the United States won the final. Following it, his other World Championship participation came in 2013 for the World Aquatics Championships. 

In the event held in Barcelona, Spain, he bagged silver for the U.S team in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.

Likewise, he again bagged silver in the 200-meter freestyle, while he was fifth in the 150-meter mark. Altogether, their team later won in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

Olympics

Conor initially stood in the 2012 United States Olympic Trials that were held in Omaha, Nebraska. Right after as he qualified the trails, it was his first time with the Olympics.

During the trials, Conor achieved his personal bests in all of the events in which he competed.

Finally, in the 2012 Summer Olympics that was held in London, Conor first competed in the men’s 400-meter freestyle. During the game, Conor bagged gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

Later, he partook in the 2016 Olympics, during which the US 4 × 200 m freestyle team won gold. As for his individual accomplishment, Conor garnered bronze in the 200 m freestyle, while he was 4th in the 400 freestyle. 

The Olympics Champion
The Olympics Champion/Instagram

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Doping Band and Retirement

According to USADA (the United States Anti-Doping Agency), Dwyer tested positive for an anabolic agent in three different out-of-competition tests on November 15, November 27, and December 20, 2018. 

Following it, Conor Dwyer gained a 20-month competitive ban from USADA in October 2019.

Initially, Conor appealed the case to a three-member panel with the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Later, with a urine test, he was tested positive. 

Additionally, it was informed that after Rio Olympics, Conor struggled from health issues such as brain fog, low mental and physical energy, difficulty sleeping, depression and anxiety.

For which, he eventually underwent hormone replacement therapy and the pellets surgically implanted in October 2018.

Also, after this case surged up in public, Conor announced that he underwent this procedure for his mental health and not his swimming performance. 

Furthermore, he stated that he had no idea that the procedure was against anti-doping rules. Anyways, USADA announced his suspension for four years at first.

However, Conor pleaded his suspension to be for sixteen months so that he can return and partook in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials. 

Well, USADA did reduce his suspension to twenty months, but he would miss out on the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials. Overall, Conor Dwyer announced the end of his career through his social media account. 

“This is an unfortunate end to an incredible chapter of my life. I have always felt that swimming chose me – it has and will always have a very special place in my heart.”
-Conor Dwyer

Conor Dwyer | Achievements and Awards

  •  2012 Summer Olympics (gold with U.S. 4×200-meter freestyle relay team)
  • SEC Swimmer of the Year (2010 & 2011)
  • NCAA Swimmer of the Year (2010 & 2011)
  • 2011 World Aquatics Championships (gold for 4×200-meter freestyle relay)
  • 2011 Pan American Games (one gold, three silver)
  • 2012 Summer Olympics (gold in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay)
  • 2013 World Aquatics Championships (silver in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay)
  • 2016 Olympics (gold with the US 4 × 200 m freestyle team)

Conor Dwyer | Net Worth

To date, Conor Dwyer has not opened up about his net worth and career earnings. However, as per the estimation, he has a net worth of around $5 million. With the addition of swimming in his resume, Conor also earns as a model. 

In fact, he is an internationally signed model. In 2019, he stood as the ace of Philippine-based international clothing brand BENCH’s men’s wear campaign in the United States and North America.

Also, in 2013, Conor had a multi-year agreement with Speedo USA. His brand endorsement deals include watch companies and Lunchable items. 

While establishing his own base throughout the years, he has been assisting society in building its pillars. Alongside his family, his girlfriends, Conor has started many campaigns and made numerous donations. 

Conor Dwyer | Personal Life and Girlfriend

Conor Dwyer is currently in a lovely and devoted relationship with his Filipino-American model, Kelsey Alaine Merritt (@kelseymerritt). The duo initially met back on the last week of May in 2018, when Kelsey was vacationing in Costa Rica. 

Also, this was the very trip that the duo met each other on as they had a vacation in a group.

After slight friendship and stuff, the duo officially announced their relationship on August 9, 2018. 

Conor with his girlfriend, Kesley
Dwyer with his girlfriend, Kesley/Instagram

OFten, the duo posts each other on their social media platform and showers love openly. 

So, who is Kelsey Alaine Merritt?

Kelsey Alaine Merritt as a model is well-known for being the first Filipino to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Not only this, but she is also the first to be on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue pages. 

Kesley’s mother is a Filipina, while her father is French, German, British, and Irish. She is a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University with a communications degree located in Quezon City, Metro Manila.

Starting modeling from a young day, she has currently signed her contract with the Viva Artists Agency. 

Social Media

Furthermore, if you wish to gain more details on his personal life and up0loads, check out his social media sites. He is on Instagram as Conor Dwyer (@conorjdwyer) with 226k followers. 

Likewise, he is on Twitter as Conor Dwyer (@conorjdwyer) with 197 followers. 

Click the link to read about another top swimmer, Chad le Clos, and his journey!

Conor Dwyer | FAQs

Has Conor Dwyer has had any injury?

As a matter of fact, Conor Dwyer has not been on the best of his health and has faced numerous situations over time. Back in 2014, he underwent deviated septum [nose] surgery. 

Does Conor Dwyer have a pet?

Conor with his pet
Conor with his pet/Instagram

Yes, Conor Dwyer does have a pet. He has an English bulldog, Pablocito. Well, he has even created an Instagram account for his pet.

As for the details, his pet is on Instagram as Life Of Pablo (@lifeofpablocito) with 5.8k followers. 

Rajani Gurung
Rajani Gurung
Hey, I'm Rajani! As a digital content writer, I write for several websites on a wide range of topics. At Playersbio, I cover to write about hot trending celebrities and news. My professional experience makes me write the hard topics in a simplified manner for easiness.

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