2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS
- April 26-30, 2022
- Greensboro, NC
- Greensboro Aquatic Center
- LCM (50m)
- Start Times: Prelims – 9 am ET / Finals – 6 pm ET
- Worlds Qualifying Criteria
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- Live Results
- Day 3 prelims recap
After a slow start to his post-Olympic season, Michael Andrew has come back with a vengeance this week in Greensboro.
The 23-year old swam 26.78 in the 50 breaststroke in prelims on Thursday morning, which missed the American Record by just .02 seconds.
The American Record belongs to Kevin Cordes, who swam 26.76 in the 50 breaststroke at the 2015 World Championships.
Nic Fink, Andrew’s primary threat in the sprint breaststroke at this meet.was 2nd in prelims in 26.91. That now makes him the 4th-best American of all-time in the event, climbing from his previous best of 27.18 that ranked 10th.
All-Time Top 6 Americans, Men’s 50 LCM Breaststroke
- Kevin Cordes, 2015 Worlds – 26.76
- Michael Andrew, 2022 US Trials – 26.78
- Mark Gangloff, 2009 World Championships – 26.86
- Nic Fink, 2022 US Trials – 26.91
- Hudson McDaniel, 2021 Speedo Summer Championships – 26.92
- Ian Finnerty, 2018 Summer Nationals – 26.96
Andrew’s previous best time was a 26.83 that was actually done in the semi-finals of last year’s US Olympic Trials – Wave II meet in Omaha en route to a 58.14 in the 100 breaststroke. At that meet, he was almost as fast in finals in the first 50, but finished in 58.73 – still good enough to win and book another race at the Olympics.
The 50 breaststroke is one of five individual races that Andrew swam at the 2019 World Championships, which included 50 meter distances of each stroke. He placed 7th in the 50 breast at that meet in 26.88.
Brazil’s Joao Gomes still holds the US Open Record at 26.60, done at the 2019 FINA Champions Series in Indianapolis. Andrew once held that record. Britain’s Adam Peaty is the World Record holder in 25.95. Andrew climbs to 13th-place all-time internationally
2021-2022 LCM Men 50 Breast
Martinenghi
26.33
| 2 | Nic Fink | USA | 26.45 | 06/21 |
| 3 | Michael Andrew | USA | 26.52 | 04/28 |
| 4 | Joao Gomes | BRA | 26.62 | 04/06 |
| 5 | Andrey Nikolaev | RUS | 26.66 | 04/29 |
Andrew has not yet qualified for the 2022 US World Championship team, though he placed 2nd in the 50 fly on Wednesday evening. In spite of his time ranking #3 in the world this season, only the winner Caeleb Dressel gets an automatic invite in that event.
That 50 fly was his only swim of the meet before qualifying 3rd in the 100 fly, 1st in this 50 breaststroke, and 7th in the 50 back on Thursday morning. Most of his racing is loaded into the back-half of this year’s schedule, with entries in the 100 breast, 200 IM, and 50 free yet to come.
Thursday was ‘vintage Michael Andrew‘ at US Trials. We should find out soon if he’ll hold on to his triple, but remember that in 2018, he won the 50 breast, was 3rd in the 100 fly, and was 4th in the 50 back in the same session. That year, though, he really just needed to make the expanded Pan Pacs team, and then had the option to swim more races there, which is a different calculus than this year.
I’m sure going fast in the 50 in prelims will help his medley relay swim at world championships (not).
Let´s hope he can bring it home tonight!!
He´s a great athlete who deserves it.
There will be only a few minutes of rest after 100 fly final, shorter than prelims.
The fact he went out 26.83 in the 100 last year is kinda wild
MA haters crying right now
I mean I don’t hate him, but I find it hard to cheer for him anymore considering that he’s an antivaxxer
Your loss
I find it easy to cheer against him because he’s a clueless antivaxxer
Better than being a clueless follower like you.
Not at all. My biggest thing is that he is the most talented swimmer since Michael Phelps but swims 50’s. He should have the 200 IM/400 IM world record. He should be able to finish a 100 fly. He could be competing with Peaty. But him and his dad’s arrogance have limited his ability. He’ll never get the aerobic base to swim those longer events. Dude’s 6’6″ skinny and long. Could be one of the best swimmers of all time but he’ll go down as a fast sprinter but his mark on the sport will not be long lasting.
MA keeps doing PB times. He is on fire this meet.
A traditional “aerobic base” would do nothing but slow him down.
. Needs progressive anaerobic endurance training in and around race back half paces.
Could use 1000-1500 of active recovery aerobics though after said anaerobic endurance days..
I think the ‘A traditional “aerobic base”’ is absolutely necessary early in development which he missed. I also think the USA has a lot of the time over trained people who have that base. MA is missing that a bit but he’s still crazy good.
nah — he’s an awesome swimmer! I just hate all antivaxxers & won’t cheer for one.
But damn straight I am in awe of his speed and talent & appreciate watching his greatness in the water.
if he were a doper, that’d be a different story, but his swimming is as clean as we can believe (unlike other star breaststrokers in the world, I bet)
and it’s just fantastic seeing great swimming, and MA is a great swimmer, for sure!