Michael Andrew Drops 1:55.26 in the 200 IM to Become #3 American All-Time

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Michael Andrew backed up his prelims performance in the 200 IM by slashing another second off of his personal best, becoming the 3rd fastest American of all-time during the semifinals of the event at tbe 2021 US Olympic Trials.

Andrew, who swam a personal best of 1:56.25 during prelims, took out the semifinals race hard, splitting under the world record pace for the first 150 meters. Although he fell off the pace on the freestyle leg, Andrew still finished in a time of 1:55.26, slicing another second off of his personal best.

With his performance, Andrew moves up from #5 to #3 all-time amongst Americans, putting himself only behind world record holder Ryan Lochte and legend Michael Phelps. It also makes him the fastest performer in the world for the 2020-2021 season. 

All-Time Fastest U.S. Performers in 200 Meter IM

    1. Ryan Lochte – 1:54.00 (2011)
    2. Michael Phelps – 1:54.16 (2011)
    3. Michael Andrew – 1:55.26 (2021) 
    4. Eric Shanteau – 1:55.36 (2009)
    5. Chase Kalisz – 1:55.40 (2018)

World Rankings 

2020-2021 LCM Men 200 IM

WangCHN
Shun
07/01
1:55.00
2Michael
Andrew
USA1:55.2606/17
3Duncan
Scott
GBR1:55.2807/30
4Jeremy
Desplanches
SUI1:56.1705/19
5Daiya
Seto
JPN1:56.2207/30
View Top 26»

The biggest difference between Andrew’s race tonight and his prelims race came on the backstroke and breaststroke legs, where he split almost a half second faster on each 50. However, he was slightly slower on the freestyle leg tonight.

Splits Comparison

Michael Andrew – 2021 US Olympic Trials Semi-Finals Michael Andrew – 2021 US Olympic Trials Prelims
Ryan Lochte – 2011 World Championships (Current WR)
1st 50 23.9 24.13 24.89
2nd 50 29.19 29.52 28.59
3rd 50 32.21 32.76 33.03
4th 50 29.96 29.84 27.49
Final Time 1:55.26 1:56.25 1:54.00

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choosy
3 years ago

I’m afraid, Lochte won’t make it! The world rankings are not updated everywhere (200 IM: Kós 1:56,99 6th place, 200 fly:Milák: 1:51,10)

Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

I love it when American athletes take it out fast. There is so much margin for error with that approach. Seemingly all my life I’ve been screaming at the fools who think they can cede ground at highest level. That’s why I was sick when Litherland made the 400 medley team again and I was laughing like heck at the genius in lane 4 of the 200 butterfly who thought no problem I’ll lay back three full body lengths again.

If Andrew is going to break that world record he needs to do it soon. It’s just like Regan Smith in 2019. This is his roll, his relaxed period when any exponential breakthrough is possible. It’s not going to continue… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Awsi Dooger
JoeDynamitasch
3 years ago

Two things Andrew needs to do in order to go sub 1:54:

  1. Train for 150m LCM (not 100m, not 200) endurance.
  2. Learn to break-out after the breaststroke leg in a controlled way. Rushing it as he’s doing it now is absolutely unnecessary and hurts his last 25-30m big time (due to air shortage). Just keep it controlled the first 5-6 strokes, use that time to find the good rhythm and lengthen the stroke just a bit, and build from there.

At your service.

anonymous
Reply to  JoeDynamitasch
3 years ago

Or maybe improve his back split without killing the legs in order to save them for the last 25 m

Last edited 3 years ago by anonymous
JoeDynamitasch
Reply to  anonymous
3 years ago

Sure, but I think he wants to keep the things ‘simple’ at the moment (simplicity is a trademark of theirs) and keep the first 150m as it is. He wants to have that 2-3 secs lead at the 150m mark and 1-2 sec before the breaststroke leg as to stay away from any ‘battle’ with and/or water etc. disturbance by other swimmers. Swimming alone is what he has always been doing and that is the most ‘natural’ for him. It’s as simple as that. P.S. Andrew is not a swimmer, or competitor. He’s a racer and races against the clock and his current PB. He doesn’t have much with water as such, he’s not a ‘feeler’ (as, e.g., Ian Thorpe,… Read more »

Speed Endurance
3 years ago

Now that he has figured out the 2IM, I’d love to see him add the 200 breast to his Olympic program for 2024, or at least start racing it at a high level. He seems to have enough endurance, the speed to take it out, and his technique has improved dramatically in the past 2-3 years where he really locks in his distance per stroke and has elite level body position. I can see him in the 2:07-2:08 range within a year from now if he swims a smart race

MTK
3 years ago

Watching his freestyle leg in the IM and seeing him shorten up in the last 25-35 has me thinking…should he just straighten out the arm recovery a little bit? It would keep the stroke longer for sure. Might make it easier to generate rate as well. He doesn’t have to have a Phelpsian 27.5 free split, but if he can get that split to 28.high then we’re looking at pure dominance.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  MTK
3 years ago

best analysis on his weakness in free ….i wonder why they never worked on that issue …this puzzles me for years . Any other great Coach would have brought his attention on that technical weakness to be worked on .

Last edited 3 years ago by ERVINFORTHEWIN
Landen
Reply to  MTK
3 years ago

We’re really looking at a 29 low being the difference maker between him and a guaranteed gold medal

MTK
3 years ago

That was so exciting to watch. 1:25.2 at the 150…my god.

Also, have to respect MA’s dedication to swimming that way – he knows the freestyle leg will HURT and he still commits fully to that first 150 every time.

Mark Nedza
3 years ago

MA makes the team in the 200 IM. Works on race strategy. Goes out a little slower. Works on his free over the next month. And, bam he’s sub 1:54.00 in Tokyo.

Joris Bohnson
3 years ago

Great swim Michael Andrew

About Nicole Miller

Nicole Miller

Nicole has been with SwimSwam since April 2020, as both a reporter and social media contributor. Prior to joining the SwimSwam platform, Nicole also managed a successful Instagram platform, amassing over 20,000 followers. Currently, Nicole is pursuing her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. After competing for the swim …

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