Mihail Alexandrov

Mike Alexandrov
Personal information
Full name Mikhail Plamenov Aleksandrov
Михаил Александров
Nickname(s) Casual Mike
Nationality  Bulgaria (−2008) /
 United States (2009–)
Born April 9, 1985 (1985-04-09) (age 26)
Sofia, Bulgaria
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Sport
Sport Swimming
College team Northwestern Wildcats USA (2003–2007)

Mihail Alexandrov, also known as "Mike", "Euro", and "The Script", (born April 9, 1985 in Sofia, Bulgaria)[1] is an Olympic swimmer from Bulgaria. He swam for Bulgaria at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.[2] Following the 2008 Olympics, Alexandrov began/switch his swimming nationality to the USA, and beginning in 2009 has swum from the USA.

Alexandrov swam collegiately for the USA's Northwestern University, from 2003–2007,[3] and has dual Bulgarian/USA citizenship. In a quirk of the then-USA Swimming rules, in March 2007 he set a USA National Record in the 100 yard breaststroke (51.56)[4] at the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, while swimming for Northwestern.[5][6] This was despite of the fact that he had not swum internationally for the USA at that time and that he was viewed as a Bulgarian swimmer. The USA Swimming rules at the time allowed for the USA National mark to be set by a swimmer who could represent the USA in international competition (his dual citizenship allows for this) and who at the time of the swim was not representing another country (he was swimming for the country-neutral Northwestern University at the time of the swim). USA Swimming's rules have subsequently been altered so that only swimmers currently representing the USA internationally can set the "American" Record; however, Alexandrov's time still stands current as the mark and will do so until bettered (per USA Swimming protocol).

References

  1. ^ Alexandrov's bio page from the 2008 Olympics website; retrieved 2009-07-23.
  2. ^ Alexsandrov's entry from www.sports-reference.com; retrieved 2009-07-23.
  3. ^ Alexandrov's bio from the Northwestern Athletics website; retrieved 2009-07-23.
  4. ^ Another day, another NCAA Record and Championship; Mike Alexandrov wins 100 breast in record fashion; Northwestern Athletics website; published 2007-03-16, retrieved 2009-07-23.
  5. ^ Northwestern's Mike Alexandrov Sets U.S. Open, NCAA Record in 100 breast; Potentially Sets American Standard by Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine online. Published 2007-03-16, retrieved 2009-07-23.
  6. ^ Results from Day 2 of the 2009 Men's Division NCAA meet, where under the 100 breaststroke, Alexandrov is listed as holding the American Record (USA National Record). Retrieved 2009-07-23.