Michael Swain began swimming when he was around eight years old. He decided to start because one of his friends had won a trophy from swimming, and Michael wanted to do the same. So he began swimming. Fast forward to 2012, and he now finds himself on the swim team at Eastern Michigan University.
When it came time to pick a university, he had offers from the University of Michigan, University of Alabama, Purdue University and University of Denver. He said that Coach Peter Linn was the reason he came to Eastern Michigan University.
“He is frequently quoted as one of the smartest coaches in swimming,” Swain said.
Linn has lived up to Michael’s expectations and has helped him improve his swimming since coming to EMU. Swain feels that his turns and underwater kicks have improved since he began swimming here, which in result have made him a successful swimmer here.
Now a junior, Swain has won many swimming events. So far this season he has placed first in the 200 Medley relay event against Miami and third in the 200 Individual Medley against Wayne State.
During the 2010-2011 season he was named Second Team-All MAC after finishing second in the 200 Breaststroke and fourth in the 400 Individual Medley at the 2011 MAC Championship. He also placed second in the 200 Breaststroke and third in the 200 Individual Medley against Michigan, and then won the 200 Breaststroke against Buffalo.
During the 2009-2010 season he swam for the University of Michigan and had an NCAA consideration mark of 3:55.51 at the Ohio State Invitational.
While he was in high school, he was a three-year, letter-winning swimmer for Huron High School.
“Feeling God’s presence when I can support my teammates, push my body past what I believe I can do, trust in my coach and look back on what I’ve done at the end of the year,” Swain said when asked what his favorite thing about swimming is.
Swain has learned a lot from swimming here at EMU. He says his favorite part of being on the team is “the opportunity to develop [himself] as a man, through the help of [his] teammates.”
Swain is currently studying Psychology, and plans to graduate from EMU, and attend a seminary school and begin working.
Some of Swain’s hobbies include reading and playing video games. One thing that people don’t know about Swain is that he has familial Hypercholesterolemia, which means that he genetically has cholesterol that is three to four times higher than normal.
One of his favorite memories from swimming is when he was 14 years old at a zone championships, which is a meet of five states combined. He finished second with a time that was 14th in the nation for 13-14 year olds.
Swain and the Eagles’ next meet is the MAC Championships, beginning on March 1st at Noon, and continuing until March 3rd.
