Michael Andrew Breaks Tie for U.S. Open Record in 50 Breaststroke

2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Consistency in 50 meter races is somewhat of a Michael Andrew specialty, and after tying the U.S. Open Record in the 50 breaststroke in prelims, he broke it – by .02 seconds – in finals.

He previously tied Adam Peaty, who happens to be the World Record holder, with a 26.86 swim on Friday morning. Peaty did his swim at an in-season meet, the Indy Pro Swim Series, last March.

Andrew’s 26.84 from this evening now holds the title for fastest-ever swim in this event on U.S. soil. In the process, he also broke his own Championship Record of 26.86, which was also set in prelims.

The only American who’s been as fast as Andrew in this event now is Kevin Cordes, whose American Record stands at 26.76. Ian Finnerty, who moved into 4th position all-time among Americans in prelims, wasn’t able to improve that time in finals.

Top 5 Americans All-Time, 50 LCM Breaststroke

  1. Kevin Cordes, 2015 – 26.76
  2. Michael Andrew, 2018 – 26.86
  3. Mark Gangloff, 2009 – 26.86
  4. Ian Finnerty, 2018 – 26.96 (Prelims)
  5. Brendan McHugh, 2014 – 27.10

Andrew also now jumps Russian Kirill Prigoda and moves to the 11th-fastest performer, of any nationality, in the history of the event.

This swim was the second of three consecutive men’s events for Andrew on Friday evening. Approximately 24 minutes earlier, he was 3rd in the 100 fly with a 51.68, and within 20 minutes of the end of this 50 breaststroke, he will race the 50 backstroke.

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Bayliss
5 years ago

I’m stoked to see if he can catch Peaty in this event. Probably could be 26.5 without the fly beforehand

Curious Swimma
5 years ago

MA has performed on the big stage. I do not see how that isn’t clear? And to all the doubters, for crying out loud he went 3 world class times today as a triple and guess what, one of those events was the 100fly. #GoMA

Gary P
5 years ago

Nice night for the young Andrew. Came up just 2 hundredths short in that last race of a triple podium.

Jeepers
Reply to  Gary P
5 years ago

Would be a great accomplishment for an entire swim meet.

Jump
5 years ago

The Usurper does it again. Go USRPT.

TYR Pro Swim Series
Reply to  Jump
5 years ago

He’s a fake swimmer

Johan
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

I think this means that MA needs to prove that he can win events in the 100s and 200s on the biggest stage. 50s in swimming reminds me of the 40 meter dash in running, which nobody cares except the NFL, and is probably not a good measure of true ability.
If we count 50 LCM stroke events, why not also count 25 SCY stroke event?
Let us not keep adding extra short events to swimming to pad the medal count.

DDias
Reply to  Johan
5 years ago

50 free is a ‘dash'(in swimming), still, the duration is over 20seconds. I was capable to run 60 metres in 7.5 seconds.21 seconds is an eternity compared with that. And everyone cares about 50free.

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Johan
5 years ago

Why is Andrew the only 50 specialist that gets grief (which isn’t even right because he swims a world class 100 fly and breast)? You never hear anything bad about Proud or Govorov.

Love to Swim
Reply to  Philip Johnson
5 years ago

Because Proud or Govorov was never hyped like MA has always been since he was 14. It’s all about hype and expectations. Also, USRPT was always advertised as effective for mid and D training.

SwimObserver
Reply to  Love to Swim
5 years ago

Ooooh, so you’re saying it’s a ‘you’ problem, not a ‘him’ problem. The reason you give him grief is because of ‘your’ expectations, not the races that ‘he’ is swimming. It makes so much more sense now.

Kevin Hill
Reply to  Love to Swim
5 years ago

Where did you get that information that USRPT is effective for mid and D training. You need to read the research (Dr Rushall) before you make those statements, which of course is probably not yours but from an uninformed person.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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