Former junior world record-holder Michael Taylor will sit out the upcoming NCAA season with a redshirt while dealing with medical issues, sources tell SwimSwam.
Taylor would be a sophomore this coming season. A blue-chip recruit out of high school, Taylor just missed setting a national high school record in the 100 backstroke. He also made two U.S. Olympic Trials finals in 2016 before starting his collegiate career, and set a world junior record in the 200 meter backstroke.
As a freshman last season, Taylor was an NCAA qualifier and earned All-America status while leading off Florida’s 200 medley relay in 21.03. That relay team finished 3rd overall. Individually, Taylor was 34th in the 200 back and 24th in the 100 back.
Taylor hasn’t logged a swim in USA Swimming’s database since those NCAA Championships, though, sitting out summer season and missing a U.S. National meet (with World Championships qualifying implications) for a second-straight year. Sources tell SwimSwam that Taylor is dealing with a prolonged medical issue, and that treatment for that issue is expected to keep him out of the water for the next nine months. We’re told Taylor will be sitting out the upcoming NCAA season with a redshirt.
We’ve asked Florida for more information on Taylor’s status for the coming year, but have not yet received official comment.
9 months? Looks like he got prego!!!!!!
Get better young man. His 100 back at Georgia HS state champ meet in 2017 was a ridiculously fun swim to watch.
Not too surprising, this young man is a top-shelf talent and it was obvious he was struggling with something during the NCAA season. Here’s hoping for a full recovery and great things ahead.
Rooting for a strong comeback when he’s able to get in the water again!
Hope he gets back in the water soon. I think Kacper Stokowski helps fill the void but I wonder what their medley relays will look like. All their relays for the matter.
Hurts Florida a little bit, especially with the loss of their senior class. They did bring in a good freshman class however, but will be interesting to see how they do with the slight change in coaching. Gonna be a much closer year within the SEC it looks like
Tough break for the kid and the gators but huge for Georgia and others hoping to win the SEC