In his finals on Thursday at the 2013 Minneapolis Grand Prix, 14-year old professional swimming phenom Michael Andrew went two-for-two in breaking National Age Group Records. Earlier, we reported on his 48.78 in the B-Final of the 100 yard fly.
He followed that by winning the C-Final of the 100 breaststroke in 55.96, which knocks exactly four-tenths of a second off of Tanner Kurz’s 2007 record of 56.36. Kurz is currently a sophomore at Indiana. That was the oldest of the National Age Group Records in yards for 13-14 boys still on the books.
His previous best coming into this meet was from the Jenks, Oklahoma Sectional Championship meet in March of 2013 at 57.01, and he was then a 56.41 in prelims on Thursday. Andrew still has the remainder of this season to take that 13-14 record even lower. It would be a tall order, though, for him to leapfrog the 15-16 record, which Andrew Seliskar owns from earlier this year in a 53.26.
Andrew’s other events at this meet are scheduled to be the 50 free, the 100 back, the 200 breast, the 200 IM, the 200 back, and the 100 free.
It’s fair to say he’s ahead of the curve for physical development compared to most 14 year-olds. Does anyone have any thoughts on how his times compare to others of similar height and physical build?
Incredible times at his age. Given what seems to be an early physical maturity size and build wise, combined with what is described as three training sessions a day…jeez. I hope he does not peak young.
How tall is Michael Andrew and what is his weight these days?
6,4 already…
whats his specialty race? breaststroke?
My best guess is the Breaststroke and Butterfly and of course sprint freestyle are his specialty strokes. He is still young and things could certainly change. His backstroke isn’t too shabby either. The guy can do it all.
My 6th story line was pretty good! 🙂
http://swimswam.com/5-unique-storylines-unique-minneapolis-grand-prix/
Congrats to Mr Andrew.
Now break the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back and 200 IM records!
anonymous, i think michael andrews training works for him, but a large reason of why it works is the fact he has swimming as his #1 priority. like phelps, he really doesn’t appear to be living a normal life and fitting swimming into it, he is swimming and working his life around that, as did phelps. not a choice i would have made my self or one i would encourage most people i know to make but mr. andrew has rare physical form that makes accomplishing what no one has ever done before look ‘easy’.
ok, so those 2 swims blew my mind. hats off to you michael andrew. you far exceeded my expectations. keep up the good work!
Helps that he also seems to be one of the biggest, strongest 14 year olds ever.
Lest we forget, he’s about the same height as Phelps was when he made the Olympic Team in 2000 at 15….
For arguments sake – I don’t think he was 6’4″ in Sydney – nor did he have the incredible musculature.
Phelps was officially listed at 6’3″ tall. Given that Andrew is half-an-inch shorter than Josh Schneider based on a recent picture, and Schneider is listed at 6’4, I’d say that the two Michaels are almost exactly the same height.
Lest we forget, Michael Andrews doesn’t have a single best event in the same ballpark as 15yo Michael Phelps’ single best event.
If we are going to compare apples to apples, 14yo Michael Phelps was 1:59.0 in the 200 fly. Not sure how tall he was at 14.
I know everyone is quick to compare MA to MP but lets just wait and see. We know that MA is the fastest 14 yo 100 flyer and 100 breast in American History. Everyone needs to relax and enjoy his progression.
Interview was done – coming shortly.
I love this guy and his family values and work ethic. When they lived in sd their family brought in an Olympic coach and offered the camp to any swimmer in sd. It was an awesome training two years in a row.
Lets not forget James Daugherty from Bolles, who is still 14 and went a 56 100 breast in terrible conditions at a terrible pool last week at florida high school states. he could re brake this at junior nationals.
55 in the 100 breast at age 14? No way man!
I knew he had a 55 in him in the breast………..but I was thinking maybe around March 2014!
Again, the guy has exceeded what I thought was humanly possible.