Standing at 6’6″, Michael Chadwick is the most decorated swimmer in the University of Missouri’s history, finishing his collegiate career with 22 total All-American honors. The sprint freestyle specialist has also worked his way up to rank among the nation’s top sprinters and has been a member of the US national team since 2015.
At 13 years old, Chadwick joined SwimMAC where he went on to break six National Age Group records as part of the team’s relays. Athletic ability is somewhat of a family affair. His father, David played basketball for North Carolina from 1968-1971 and ranks 15th on the programs career field goal list.
University of Missouri
In his four years at Mizzou, Chadwick accumulated a total of 22 All-American honors with 11 first-team and 11 honourable mentions. Upon graduation from the program, he owned team records in the 50, 100 and 200 yard freestyle and 200 yard I.M. He also ranked third all time in the 100 yard breaststroke.
2013-2014
Chadwick made an immediate impact for the Tigers during his freshman campaign. At his first NCAA Championships he scored points for Mizzou as a member of the 200 and 400 yard medley relays. It also didn’t take his long to mark his name in the Tiger’s record books. He broke the programs 200 yard freestyle record in 1:35.63 in the prelims of the SEC Championships.
2014-2015
In his sophomore season, Chadwick scored points as an individual at the NCAA Championships, finishing 5th and the top American in the 100 yard freestyle. He also finished 9th in the 50 yard freestyle. He earned four All-American honourable mentions as part of Missouri’s relays.
2015-2016
In his third year, Chadwick continued to make improvements and out-do his previous NCAA Championship performance. At the 2016 meet he earned his highest finish so far with a fourth place in the 50 yard freestyle. His other top-8 performances came in the 100 yard freestyle where he finished 6th and the 200 yard freestyle and 400 yard medley relay where he helped Mizzou to finish 7th and 4th respectively. He earned honourable mentions as a member of the 400 and 800 freestyle relays and the 200 medley relay.
2016-2017
Chadwick saved his best season for his senior year. At the NCAA Championships he claimed the silver medal in the 100 yard freestyle behind Caeleb Dressel. His new best time of 40.95 made him the fourth person to ever go below 41 seconds in the event. In his two other individual events. Chadwick finished 4th in the 50 yard freestyle and 12th in the 100 yard breaststroke. As part of the Tigers relay teams, Chadwick earned a bronze in the 400 yard medley relay and placed 4th, 7th and 10th in the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays.
National/International Career
Chadwick made people take notice at the 2015 Speedo Sectionals when he took gold in the 100 meter freestyle in 48.87 to post the second-fastest time of an American so far that year. At nationals a few weeks later, he placed 4th in the 50 freestyle and 5th in the 100 freestyle. That was enough to place him on the U.S. National Team and earn a spot on Team USA for the Duel in the Pool.
2015 Duel in the Pool (Indianapolis, Indiana)
In his first national call up, Chadwick posted a new American record as a member of the 4×100 meter (SC) freestyle relay.
2016 Olympic Trials (Omaha, Nebraska)
At his first Olympic Trials, Chadwick had his eyes firmly set on punching his ticket to Rio, going into the 100 freestyle seeded fifth. He lined up for the prelims along side Olympic Veteran, Anthony Ervin, but in the first 15 meters his 2016 Olympic hopes were dashed. After the dive, his arm came down by his side and before he even surfaced he was behind. Chadwick fought hard to make up the distance but narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot, finishing 18th in 49.61.
After the disappointment, Chadwick picked himself back up and time-trialed the 100 meter freestyle touching in 48.96 and used that confidence in his 50 meter freestyle. He made it through to the final, finishing 6th in 21.96. That was his first time to dip under 22 seconds.
2016 FINA World Short Course Championships (Windsor, Canada)
Chadwick won four medals in Windsor, Canada for his performances in relays. In the 4×50 meter mixed medley relay, he joined with Tom Shields, Lilly King and Kelsi Worrell to take gold in a new championship and American record of 1:37.22. He also won two silver medals in the 4×50 meter freestyle and medley relays, and a bronze in the 4×100 free relay.
2017 National Championships/ World Championship Trials (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Chadwick qualified for his first long course World Championships after finishing 5th in the 100 meter freestyle in 48.48 to be used as a relay option in Budapest.
2017 World Championships (Budapest, Hungary)
In Budapest, Chadwick swam on the prelims relay of the 400 free relay. He went 2nd, and split a 48.74. That night, the relay touched the wall first, earning Chadwick his first long course world championship gold.
2018 World Short Course Championships (Hangzhou, China)
In Hangzhou, Chadwick pulled relay duties on 5 different relays, including prelims of both mixed relays (4×50 free and medley) netting golds in both, and in the 4×50 medley relay, which scored silver in finals. Chadwick also swam finals of the 4×50 and 4×100 free relays, which both set world records.
ISL – LA Current
On June 18, 2019, Michael Chadwick was announced as a member of the LA Current ISL team, headed by GM Lenny Krayzelburg.
2019 World Championships (Gwangju, South Korea)
In Gwangju, Chadwick swam on the prelims relay of the 400 free relay. He went 3rd and split a 47.92. That night, the relay touched the wall first, earning Chadwick a gold medal.
2019 Pan American Games (Lima, Peru)
After world champs, Chadwick swam a full schedule at the 2019 Pan Ams. He netted individual bronze in both the 50 (21.99) and 100 (48.88) freestyle. On relays, Chadwick helped the USA to silver in the 4×100 free (48.94 lead off), gold in the 4×100 medley (48.66 anchor in prelims), and gold in the mixed 4×100 free relay (49.09 lead off).
