It appears that 2012 German Olympian Theresa Michalak has left the University of Florida program, at least for this season. The top-flight IM’er and breaststroker does not show up on the UF roster and hasn’t swum at any of the Gators’ meets yet this year.
Neither Michalak nor the Florida swimming & diving program responded to a request for comment.
Michalak was a top talent for the Gators last season. At the SEC Championships, despite being primarily an IM’er and breaststroker, she pulled off the 5th fastest 200 medley backstroke lead off (24.95). More importantly, though, Michalak won the 200 IM conference title and scored in the 100 breast and 400 IM for the Gators. She also swam the breaststroke leg of the UF 400 medley relay (she was the only Gator to break 1:01 last year, and finished she season with a 59.94) and anchored their 200 free relay.
While Michalak didn’t have a great NCAA taper, missing out on scoring individually and on relays, she finished the year as Florida’s fastest 100 breaststroker and 200 IM’er. Florida still has a very strong IM group, but they lack depth in the breaststroke, much like their men’s team this year.
This year, UF has relied on sophomore Paige Scheriger and freshman Hannah Burns for breaststroke, but there isn’t an immediate, reliable breaststroker to stock their medleys with and defeat other top-end talents in dual meets. Senior Lindsey McKnight pulled out a 1:01.33 in the 100 breast at last year at UF’s fall champs meet and was the fastest Gator 200 breaststroker last year, though she didn’t swim in any meets until their most recent dual with South Carolina, where the only breaststroke she swam was on the 200 medley B relay.
Michalak was the 2011 European Champion in the 100 SCM IM at just 19 years old.
Meanwhile, Michalak will focus on qualifying to representing Germany at the 2016 Olympics. Florida next travels to OSU for the Buckeye Invitational from November 20-22.