Michael Andrew Explains How He Went 1:55 in the 200 IM

2021 U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

Reported by James Sutherland.

MEN’S 200 IM SEMI-FINALS

  • World Record: Ryan Lochte (USA) – 1:54.00 (2011)
  • American Record: Ryan Lochte – 1:54.00 (2011)
  • US Open Record: Ryan Lochte (USA) – 1:54.56 (2009)
  • World Junior Record: Hubert Kos (HUN) – 1:56.99 (2021)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: Michael Phelps (USA) – 1:54.66
  • 2016 US Olympic Trials Champion: Michael Phelps – 1:55.91
  • Wave I Cut: 2:04.09
  • Wave II Cut: 2:03.02
  • FINA ‘A’ Cut: 1:59.67
  1. Michael Andrew (RPC), 1:55.26
  2. Chase Kalisz (ABSC), 1:57.19
  3. Kieran Smith (FLOR), 1:57.61
  4. Carson Foster (RAYS), 1:57.77
  5. Sam Stewart (YHF), 1:58.37
  6. Ryan Lochte (GSC), 1:58.65
  7. Andrew Seliskar (CAL), 1:58.92
  8. Trenton Julian (ROSE), 1:59.21

As we’ve become accustomed to, Michael Andrew absolutely torched the first 150 in the second semi-final of the men’s 200 IM, but we’ve never seen him out quite so fast.

Andrew was out in an unbelievably fast 23.90 at the 50, with no one else in the field even under 25 seconds. He extended that lead with a 29.19 back leg, and then blew everyone away again with a blazing 32.21 breast split. That put him at 1:25.30 at the 150, 1.21 seconds under Ryan Lochte‘s world record pace.

Andrew went from being the fastest in the field on each of the first three 50s to the slowest on freestyle, closing in 29.96, but ultimately it was a moot point tonight as he qualified first for the final by almost two seconds in 1:55.26.

Not only does that erase a second from his previous PB set in the prelims (1:56.25), but it also makes him the fifth-fastest man in history, and the fastest in the world this season.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 200 IM

  1. Ryan Lochte (USA), 1:54.00 – 2011
  2. Michael Phelps (USA), 1:54.16 – 2011
  3. Kosuke Hagino (JPN), 1:55.07 – 2016
  4. Laszlo Cseh (HUN), 1:55.18 – 2009
  5. Michael Andrew (USA), 1:55.26 – 2021

2020-2021 LCM MEN 200 IM

MICHAELUSA
ANDREW

06/17
1:55.26
2 DUNCAN
SCOTT
GBR 1:55.90 04/14
3 WANG
SHUN
CHN 1:56.27 10/01
4 MITCH
LARKIN
AUS 1:56.32 12/15
5 PHILLIP
HEINTZ
GER 1:56.42 12/30

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Tim Morrison
2 years ago

Micheal needs to learn easy speed. Breath flow. Decompress every stroke on the 1st 50
24.2 but relaxed throughout.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
2 years ago

the downfall is still the free leg….but he prefers not to admit it ….Its fine , all is great .

Wild Bill
2 years ago

Will be fun tonight – under 1:55

maybe?
Reply to  Wild Bill
2 years ago

It’s more likely that he swims a 1:56 judging by how much he dropped off in the 100 breast final

Last edited 2 years ago by maybe?
Anonymoose
Reply to  maybe?
2 years ago

judging off of a sample size of 1

harambe
2 years ago

SwimSwam: Describe your race strategy for the front half

MA: YEET

Teddy
2 years ago

It is a strange performance to watch.

It’s like a 4×50 medley relay where there weren’t enough 16 year olds on a small club, so they threw a 12 year old on the free leg.

Cute!

David B
2 years ago

I really wanted to see Michael swim the 100 Fly. The way he is taking out the IM, I think he would go 50 low taking the 2nd spot easily.
Good luck in IM final.

Horninco
Reply to  David B
2 years ago

I bet he feels better about his chances to medal in the IM and 50 free versus the fly and wants to up his odds on the 50 free

Plus he has the medley relay at the end of the meet now

Krishnasai Chalasani
2 years ago

I really hope we see something special today

SwammaJammaDingDong
2 years ago

“I was on pace to go a 1:49 but then I had to swim those last 25 meters” – MA

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

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