St. Petersburg, Russia, native Mikhail Povaliaev has committed to the University of Wisconsin as a part of the Badger men’s 2026 recruiting class.
Povaliaev, who represents Hapoel Dolfin Netanya, logged a 4th-place finish in the 50 free at the 2023 World Junior Championships (LCM). After having set a new lifetime best in the prelims (22.96) and the semifinals (22.84), Povaliaev clocked another career best in the finals, touching just one spot off the podium in 22.59. He also added a lifetime best in the 100 free, just missing the semifinals in 50.78, good enough for an 18th-place finish.
Outside of his sprint-free specialty, Povaliaev also holds some sprint butterfly and backstroke speed, posting a long-course 50 fly best of 25.34 from the Israel Youth Championships in July of 2023 and a long-course 100 backstroke best time of 1:00.27 from the Far Western LC Championships in July of 2022.
Povaliaev also raced at the Israel Olympic Trials in 2024, where he placed 11th in the 50 free (23.72) and 22nd in the 100 free (52.73), and added an 8th-place finish in the 50 back (27.39).
Best Times Converted to SCY:
| Event | LCM | SCY Conversion |
| 50 Free | 22.59 | 19.63 |
| 100 Free | 50.94 | 44.45 |
| 200 Free | 2:02.46 | 1:47.44 |
| 100 Back | 1:00.27 | 53.21 |
The Wisconsin men are coming off a 5th place finish at the 2026 Men’s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships.
Based on his converted best times, Povaliaev would have been projected to finish in a tie for 13th in the 50 free and 34th in the 100 free.
The sprint free upside is a clear given, but the lack of a sure 3rd event should be an interesting story to watch throughout his first year in Madison. The additional international and high-level placements at major junior international meets are also very promising signs for things to come.
The addition of Povaliaev adds to a solid point total from Big Tens, having scored 46.5 in the 50 free and another 27 in the 100 free.
His times also fare well in comparison to last season’s roster, as his projection would have been only behind Ben Wiegand (19.21) and Cooper Scharff (19.27) in the 50 free, and would have been 7th in the 100 free on last season’s Badgers roster.
His 50 free also fares well for a potential relay spot, considering he would have been one of just three Badger men under that 20-second mark from a flat start (based on the conversion from LCM).
Povaliaev joins a Wisconsin 2026 recruiting class and Benjamin Cescon, Ashton Joswiak, Max Stewart, and Joshua Smith.
College athletics is a joke swimming especially. It’s not a college developing a team and competing for the love of school or team, it’s middle aged men recruiting for next season to get a better job. What a shame.
College is a joke
I’m guessing he likes the winter
When is our nation going to wake up, and put restrictions on foreign swimmers taking spots away from American born kids?
I’m ok with foreigners training/competing at NCAA level in the USA if:
1) No more than 10% of the roster is foreign
2) Their home country pays 100% of the costs of attendance
It’s about damn time we look out for our own, providing more opportunities for them to go to and afford school, and in the pool for future Olympic dreams.
Well said! I guess the 17 individuals who did not agree with your statement are from east of the river ‘Oder’. Just wondering do the Russians have their own version of SwimSwam?
I agree. OSU stacked with foreign swimmers but complaining that auto bids are taking spots. Wake up, America
Providing them with an education assuming the degree actually translates to something.
I guarantee if you talk to anyone actually involved with college athletics, having foreign teammates is towards the bottom of their list of concerns. 95% of college swimmers are going to be a lot more concerned about how to utilize their “communications” degree than if their parents contributed 37 cents towards the guy who scored in NCAA B finals.
also, tariff the hell out of everything, especially coffee and bananas
Russia!?!?
Israel?!?
How am I first in the comments ? 😳🥸