World Champs Silver Medalist Andrei Minakov Commits to Stanford

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There’s even more to be thankful today in Palo Alto, as Russian teen phenom Andrei Minakov, this summer’s silver medalist in the 100 fly at World Championships, just announced that he’s verbally committed to Stanford University.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5djH7CAC2z/?igshid=2pg0r7oyorwq

It’s official!!! I am absolutely thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to Stanford University❤️🌲 It was my dream since childhood, and I am very happy it’s finally become a reality. I want to express gratitude to my family, friends, and coaches, who have been working with me for many years and especially to Ray Mitchell from Terrapins swim team!
Swim fast, study hard.
GO CARD🌲🌲🌲
#stanford #swimming

This summer, Minakov took on a big schedule, racing at the World Championships, European Junior Championships, and World Junior Championships. He is believed to be the only swimmer that medalled at all 3 of those meets. In spite of almost 2-straight months of championship meets, Minakov captured 6 medals at the European Junior Championships (including 4 golds), 7 medals at the World Junior Championships (including 3 gold), and the silver medal in the 100 fly at the World Championships (in addition to 2 relay medals). Last summer, in 2018, he was also the dominant swimmer of the Youth Olympic Games, winning 6 gold and 1 silver medal.

Minakov trains primarily in Russia, but has also spent time with the Terrapin Swim Team in Concord, CA, not too far from Stanford. He trained for several years under Terrapin coach Ray Mitchell, who Minakov thanked in his announcement.

Minakov was initially was slated to take part in the ISL’s inaugural season, but announced in September that he was forgoing that in order to preserve his NCAA eligibility. He’s the Russian national record holder in the 100 fly, with his time of 50.83 from Worlds.

Best Times in SCY

  • 50 free – 20.43
  • 100 free – 43.94
  • 100 fly – 46.59

Best Times in LCM

  • 50 free – 22.77
  • 100 free – 48.50
  • 50 fly – 23.39
  • 100 fly – 50.83

Assuming he’s heading to Stanford in the fall of 2020, as he initially indicated was his plan, Minakov helps cement a monster first recruiting class for Stanford head coach Dan Schemmel. That class already included #11 Ethan Hu, #13 Ethan Dang, #14 Rick Mihm, #16 Preston Forst, #19 Luke Maurer, and Aaron Sequiera. So, even without Minakov, that class had five of the top 20 recruits, and while we didn’t rank Minakov, as we typically don’t rank international swimmers, he’s clearly one of the very top recruits in the class, and is the metaphorical icing on the cake for the Cardinal.

This class should inject some much-needed new life into Stanford’s sprint relays, which have struggled over the past few years, and Minakov will immediately contend for a NCAA title in the 100 fly.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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Snarky
4 years ago

That’s a huge pickup for Stanford.

1 Dan Schemmel with a Side of Fries
4 years ago

Schemmel is the Man! Way to be!

Really
4 years ago

Stanford finally gets some speed

PACK ATTACK
4 years ago

What a way to WASTE talent! STANFURD can’t train sprinters. LOL

Coach
Reply to  PACK ATTACK
4 years ago

Let’s just be happy for the kid. Good grief.

Swimswammer
Reply to  PACK ATTACK
4 years ago

Be careful, last time y’all claimed a historically good program couldn’t train a high school sprint phenom the comments didn’t age well
https://swimswam.com/1-recruit-class-2014-caeleb-dressel-commits-florida/

tnp101
4 years ago

Wow, what a surprise with this commitment and a fantastic get from Stanford!!! Now they are back in the discussion…at least for now. Great job Schemmel and team! He must be the first Russian on the men’s swim team in recent history of Stanford men’s swimming. Welcome to the farm, Andrei!

Hank
4 years ago

Can’t recall any incoming male NCAA swimmers ever with a WC Silver medal in an individual event. Have there been any? Seems like overkill. Kind of like when Stanford got Ledecky.

PhillyMark
Reply to  Hank
4 years ago

Can only think of females who have accomplished the feat…at least in more recent times. Maybe Luca and Carson will pick up some hardware this summer and join the club

Corn Pop
4 years ago

Not only does he resemble a Slavic prince from a fairy tale but he d*mn looks good in goggles ! .

Swimming
4 years ago

Alright now it’s time to ask the real questions. How much better is this class than Texas’s and Cal’s 2020 classes?

The Man Himself
Reply to  Swimming
4 years ago

Definitely the best recruiting class currently (Chaney might shake things up if he ever does commit lol). IMO it’s
1. Stanford
2. UT
3. Cal
4. Georgia (great up top, less depth)/Michigan (not as good up top, but more depth)
However, I don’t think it’ll be enough to overcome the deficit from the last few classes. It remains to be seen if Schemmel can continue the recruiting momentum. I’ve heard that much of this class was mainly the last regime’s work, although Schemmel did have to get them to sign the paper, so don’t know how true that is.

Wow
Reply to  The Man Himself
4 years ago

Good take I can totally agree with those rankings

Foreign Embassy
Reply to  The Man Himself
4 years ago

If Chaney commits to cal, I think it would boost them past Texas. But a blue chip like minakov could score in 2-3 A finals as a freshman…

Lane 8
Reply to  The Man Himself
4 years ago

Chaney to Stanford. Put that in the bank.

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