Michael Andrew, the breakthrough U.S. swimmer of 2018, summed his 2019 in an Instagram caption.
“Super cool to be the first man in history to final in all four 50s [50m events] at a world Champs,” he posted last summer, “but unfortunately no individual medals.”
Andrew, who made national news turning professional at age 14 in 2013, bounced back in a big way in his first Tyr Pro Series final of the Olympic year.
He won the 100m breaststroke in 59.14 seconds, lowering his personal best by .24 in Des Moines on Thursday. He beat a field including every other American to make an Olympic or world team in the event dating to 2013.