1st International Copa Heller 2018
- February 23rd-25th, 2018
- Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico
- 50m (LCM) course
- Complete Results (PDF)
American swimmer Michael Andrew has never trained or raced at altitude before, but his first mile-high experience this past weekend in Querétaro, Mexico, at around 6,000 feet, was a fruitful adventure, including a new lifetime best.
Sneaking in a long course meet in Mexico before this weekend’s long course TYR Pro Swim Series meet in Atlanta, Andrew came away with a 27.33 in the 50 meter breaststroke, beating out Brazil’s SCM national record holder in the 50 breaststroke Joao Gomes Jr, who finished 2nd in 27.48. For Andrew, that swim improves the 27.39 that he swam over the summer to win the World Junior Championship.
He also swam a 1:01.68 in the 100 breaststroke, which is about half-a-second faster than he was at the Austin stop of the Pro Swim Series, in spite of racing at altitude.
He also swam a 23.42 in the 50 fly, .01 seconds faster than he was in Austin and enough to rank him 6th in the world this year.
Also in attendance at the meet was Brazilian star and World Record holder Cesar Cielo. He finished 2nd to Andrew in the 50 fly, almost a second back in 24.30 in an event in which he’s a two-time World Champion. He also swam a 50.55 in the 100 free, beating Andrew’s 51.71. Andrew won the ‘rubber match’ with a 22.22 in the 50 free, beating Cielo’s 22.76.
The 50’s are anaerobic so how does it really change much from swimming 50’s on normal altitude?
Is the brain anaerobic?
Since MA recorded a PB, why wasn’t he tested for Querétaro Sierra Mountain high, a similar but less powerful performance enhancer than a Rocky Mountain high? Symptoms, such as euphoria, can easily be recognized from phrases such as “wow, man!” or “Dude, check this out!”, although swimmers used to very narrow pools may be heard saying “this pool is spinning at race pace!”. And once MA realizes that this will make him swim even faster at sea level, he’ll be back on the mountain, again and again and again. At least he’ll be far from the United States Rockies Police Troopers (USRPT).
That second 50 at altitude is a killer.?
These are impressive times, no matter how you break it down. In my mind, 2019 in South Korea is where we will find out if everything he has done up to this point was worth it. If he can win multiple sprints at the Long Course World Championships, people can say he is better off as a professional swimmer over yet another NCAA performer making the jump to international. No doubt he has a lot more international racing experience over other 18-19 year old swimmers on the USA roster; so perhaps it will pay off.
Considering his current specialization, I imagine that he must pray that one day the 50s of stroke will be swum at olympic games. LA 2028?
Fast twitch is fast twitch. Look at Flo. He didn’t become the best 50 freestyler (for a time) without also becoming the best at 50’s of other strokes. MAs real game is the 50 free, and the fact that he trains and swims the other strokes in sprints only enhances it. You can’t just swim a 50 free and only the 50 free for 10 years.
Bigly, but Manadou also had a Very Good 100 Free on Relays.. Which is something Andrew still has to Develop (His 100 free is probably his weaker 100) but he may have a shot on 100 Breast.. but even among the Juniors he is not the top 100 breast guy.. If he does not want to be a One Chance Guy he needs to develop or his 100 breast or his 100 free..
Actually short sprints at altitude would be assisting a swim not burdening one. Just sayin’.
My thoughts exactly
Why is that?
Is the density/resistance of water affected equally as air? Yes, I am not a science major.
Wonder if this is a sign of a good 100 br to come this season. He will likely get on the pan pac team in the 50 (top 3), and I think he can win the 50 back to qualify for worlds, but I would like to see him figure out a LCM 100 sooner than later. 58 seems doable this year or next.
Disagree cause 58 is really really really really really really good
With his 50 time you would expect him to be 59 low but he hasn’t been able to convert 50s into 100s yet. Maybe this week we can see something and think it is coming soon
He won’t be able to convert 50’s into 100’s because that is all he trains for
I think there might be a little typo in this sentence here about the 50 Free, “
Results for the final session, including Cielo’s 50 free final, weren’t available ass of posting.”
heh.
No typo. He finally listened to everyone on swimswam and increased bolume. The result is unfathomable. We were right!