Michael Andrew Sprints To 50 Free Gold; Leads 1-2 With Dressel

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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19-year-old Michael Andrew of the United States won his first individual medal at a major long course international meet with his 21.46 in the 50 free final on the last night of action from the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo. Andrew has proved he is the real deal in long course at US Nationals and again at Pan Pacs with this 50 free gold. Andrew led a 1-2 finish with fellow American Caeleb Dressel (21.93).

This is Andrew’s best time as he improved off his 21.49 from Nationals in July. Andrew is now tied for 24th all-time with Ukraine’s Andrii Govorov.

Dressel was well off his best time of 21.17 from last year, but if he can get to his 2017 form then the United States has a solid 1-2 punch in the 50 free that they can build on for the rest of the Olympic quad cycle. Andrew still has a ways to go to catch Great Britain’s Ben Proud (21.11), the world’s fastest swimmer.

The Americans were the only ones to break 22 in the final as Yuri Kisil (22.02) won the bronze medal for Team Canada. This is Kisil’s first individual medal at a major meet.

Japan’s Katsumi Nakamura (22.24) and Shinri Shioura (22.27) finished fourth and fifth for the home nation.

Brazil’s Pedro Spajari (22.30) and Marcelo Chierighini (22.50) placed sixth and eighth as they will get a chance to hear their national anthem tonight for the 4×100 free relay gold they won last night.

New Zealand’s Daniel Hunter (22.39) was seventh in the final.

2018 World Rankings:

Ben Proud, GBR, 21.11
Bruno Fratus, BRA, 21.35
Kristian Gkolomeev, GRE, 21.44
Vladimir Morozov, RUS, 21.44
Pawel Juraszek, POL, 21.45
Michael Andrew, USA, 21.46
Caeleb Dressel, USA, 21.67
Simonas Bilis, LTU, 21.70
Andrea Vergani, ITA, 21.70

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Brett Davies

5 years ago

Dressel is obviously over trained and under prepared for this meet.

Paul White

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

How do you explain 100fly?

Michael

5 years ago

Reply to Paul White

Awesomw in Fly: his best Stroke….but I cannot figure the free? What caused that?

Lisa Sebastian Sylvester

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

They, and I mean all of these top swimmers cannot swim a world record every race!! As long as they finish on top they will train accordingly into Tokyo

Brett Davies

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Paul White Still slower by far from his best time and also slower than what he did at U.S.nationals.

Davies Terry

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Every one is way to quick to draw conclusions. Let me remind you of what happened at worlds last year and I will remind in two years at the olympics. Chill

Lori Jo McCullough

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Or he was in a motorcycle accident end of June. Might be that.

Mark Hesse

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

“Obviously…”

Erik Wiken

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Brett Davies I want you to take out a stopwatch and using the start/stop button, click the difference between his best time and his Pan PAC Finals time.. he could very well have had a couple of off meets in close succession. Could there be lingering effects of the accident, maybe, or he just had a off champ season… you feel the same way about KL and her meets this past week?

Brett Davies

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Erik Wiken
I did not know about the accident till after I posted.
So obviously I was not wrong about him not been fully prepared and ready for this meet just the wrong reason. As for KL she generally had a fairly decent meet.