2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
- When:
- Wave I Dates: June 4-7, 2021
- Wave II Dates: June 13-20, 2021
- Prelims: 10am CDT | Finals: 7pm CDT
- Where: CHI Health Center / Omaha, Nebraska
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Cuts
- Wave I & II Event Order
- LCM (50m)
- Day 5 Finals Live Stream
- Psych Sheets
- Wave II Live Results
- Day 5 Finals Heat Sheet
Michael Andrew backed up his prelims performance in the 200 IM by slashing another second off of his personal best, becoming the 3rd fastest American of all-time during the semifinals of the event at tbe 2021 US Olympic Trials.
Andrew, who swam a personal best of 1:56.25 during prelims, took out the semifinals race hard, splitting under the world record pace for the first 150 meters. Although he fell off the pace on the freestyle leg, Andrew still finished in a time of 1:55.26, slicing another second off of his personal best.
With his performance, Andrew moves up from #5 to #3 all-time amongst Americans, putting himself only behind world record holder Ryan Lochte and legend Michael Phelps. It also makes him the fastest performer in the world for the 2020-2021 season.
All-Time Fastest U.S. Performers in 200 Meter IM
-
- Ryan Lochte – 1:54.00 (2011)
- Michael Phelps – 1:54.16 (2011)
- Michael Andrew – 1:55.26 (2021)
- Eric Shanteau – 1:55.36 (2009)
- Chase Kalisz – 1:55.40 (2018)
World Rankings
2020-2021 LCM Men 200 IM
Shun
1:55.00
View Top 26»2 Michael
AndrewUSA 1:55.26 06/17 3 Duncan
ScottGBR 1:55.28 07/30 4 Jeremy
DesplanchesSUI 1:56.17 05/19 5 Daiya
SetoJPN 1:56.22 07/30
The biggest difference between Andrew’s race tonight and his prelims race came on the backstroke and breaststroke legs, where he split almost a half second faster on each 50. However, he was slightly slower on the freestyle leg tonight.
Splits Comparison
| Michael Andrew – 2021 US Olympic Trials Semi-Finals | Michael Andrew – 2021 US Olympic Trials Prelims |
Ryan Lochte – 2011 World Championships (Current WR)
|
|
| 1st 50 | 23.9 | 24.13 | 24.89 |
| 2nd 50 | 29.19 | 29.52 | 28.59 |
| 3rd 50 | 32.21 | 32.76 | 33.03 |
| 4th 50 | 29.96 | 29.84 | 27.49 |
| Final Time | 1:55.26 | 1:56.25 | 1:54.00 |
I’m afraid, Lochte won’t make it! The world rankings are not updated everywhere (200 IM: Kós 1:56,99 6th place, 200 fly:Milák: 1:51,10)
I love it when American athletes take it out fast. There is so much margin for error with that approach. Seemingly all my life I’ve been screaming at the fools who think they can cede ground at highest level. That’s why I was sick when Litherland made the 400 medley team again and I was laughing like heck at the genius in lane 4 of the 200 butterfly who thought no problem I’ll lay back three full body lengths again.
If Andrew is going to break that world record he needs to do it soon. It’s just like Regan Smith in 2019. This is his roll, his relaxed period when any exponential breakthrough is possible. It’s not going to continue… Read more »
Two things Andrew needs to do in order to go sub 1:54:
At your service.
Or maybe improve his back split without killing the legs in order to save them for the last 25 m
Sure, but I think he wants to keep the things ‘simple’ at the moment (simplicity is a trademark of theirs) and keep the first 150m as it is. He wants to have that 2-3 secs lead at the 150m mark and 1-2 sec before the breaststroke leg as to stay away from any ‘battle’ with and/or water etc. disturbance by other swimmers. Swimming alone is what he has always been doing and that is the most ‘natural’ for him. It’s as simple as that. P.S. Andrew is not a swimmer, or competitor. He’s a racer and races against the clock and his current PB. He doesn’t have much with water as such, he’s not a ‘feeler’ (as, e.g., Ian Thorpe,… Read more »
Now that he has figured out the 2IM, I’d love to see him add the 200 breast to his Olympic program for 2024, or at least start racing it at a high level. He seems to have enough endurance, the speed to take it out, and his technique has improved dramatically in the past 2-3 years where he really locks in his distance per stroke and has elite level body position. I can see him in the 2:07-2:08 range within a year from now if he swims a smart race
Watching his freestyle leg in the IM and seeing him shorten up in the last 25-35 has me thinking…should he just straighten out the arm recovery a little bit? It would keep the stroke longer for sure. Might make it easier to generate rate as well. He doesn’t have to have a Phelpsian 27.5 free split, but if he can get that split to 28.high then we’re looking at pure dominance.
best analysis on his weakness in free ….i wonder why they never worked on that issue …this puzzles me for years . Any other great Coach would have brought his attention on that technical weakness to be worked on .
We’re really looking at a 29 low being the difference maker between him and a guaranteed gold medal
That was so exciting to watch. 1:25.2 at the 150…my god.
Also, have to respect MA’s dedication to swimming that way – he knows the freestyle leg will HURT and he still commits fully to that first 150 every time.
MA makes the team in the 200 IM. Works on race strategy. Goes out a little slower. Works on his free over the next month. And, bam he’s sub 1:54.00 in Tokyo.
Great swim Michael Andrew