Mihail Alexandrov

Mike Alexandrov
Personal information
Full nameMihail Plamenov Aleksandrov
Михаил Александров
Nickname"Mike"
National team Bulgaria (2004−2008) /
 United States (2009–)
Born (1985-04-09) April 9, 1985
Sofia, Bulgaria
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight88 kg (194 lb)
RelativesPlamen Alexandrov, Father
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, Breaststroke, Individual Medley
ClubSofia Olympedia
Champaign County Aquachiefs[1][2]
College teamNorthwestern University
CoachPlamen Alexandrov
Bob Groseth (Northwestern)
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing the United States
World Championships (SC)
Gold medal – first place2010 Dubai4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place2012 Istanbul4×100 m medley
Summer Universiade
Silver medal – second place2013 Kazan100 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place2013 Kazan4×100 m medley
Representing Bulgaria
European Championships (SC)
Bronze medal – third place2007 Debrecen100 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place2007 Debrecen200 m breaststroke

Mihail Alexandrov (Bulgarian: Михаил Александров) (born April 9, 1985) is an Olympic swimmer from Bulgaria. He swam for Bulgaria at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.[3] Alexandrov has been swimming for the USA since 2009.[2]

Early life

Alexandrov was born April 9, 1985, in Sofia, Bulgaria to father, Olympic athlete Plamen Alexandrov and mother, Kalinka Alexandrov. His father Plamen, a 2000 Olympian in breastroke and individual medlay events, was one of his earliest and more influential coaches, and first taught him breaststroke, believing Mihail had a natural propensity for the stroke. Mihail moved to Champaign, Illinois in the United States with his family by the age of eight. At Champaign Centennial High School[4] he established school records in seven events, with a backstroke specialty. During his high school years, he was a team Most Valuable Player and earned All-state honors. In 2003 at the age of 15–17 in world rankings, he was rated fifth in the 200 Individual Medley, fourth in the 400 individual medley, and fifth in the 200 Individual Medley.[5]

Northwestern University

Alexandrov, who has dual Bulgarian/USA citizenship, swam for the USA's Northwestern University from 2003 to 2007 where he competed for ASCA Hall of Fame Head Coach Bob Groseth, and Assistant Coaches that included Jarod Schroeder.[6][7] At Northwestern, specializing in IM and breaststroke, Alexandrov established a new NCAA record in the 100 breaststroke, winning the 2007 NCAA Championship title in the event. At the 2007 NCAA championships, he also competed in the breaststroke portion of Northwestern's 400-medley relay team that that won the title in the event, and broke an NCAA record. Northwestern team finished sixth nationally that year, its best finish in recent history.

Alexandrov had three titles at the NCAA Championships, was the recipient of All-America honors 24 times. He was a first-team Big Ten selection in four instances. He set three conference records during his time at Northwestern. He was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the 2007 Conference Championships.[8]

In March 2007 he set a USA National Record in the 100 yard breaststroke (51.56)[9] at the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, while swimming for Northwestern.[10][11] This was despite the fact that he had not swum internationally for the US 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 US in international competition (his dual citizenship allowed 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. Alexandrov's record was broken in 2012 by Kevin Cordes.[9]

Olympics

Swimming for Bulgaria as a multi-stroke competitor at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece, he swam the 200-meter freestyle finishing 31st, the 200-meter breaststroke finishing 28th, and the 200-meter Individual Medley finishing 18th. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, again representing Bulgaria, he swam the 100-meter breaststroke finishing 11th, the 200-meter breaststroke finishing 24th and the 200-meter Individual Medley finishing 20th.[2]

Careers

Alexandrov has worked as a personal trainer in the Los Angeles area where he also coaches swimming.[12]

References

  1. ↑ ""Swimmign", Herald and Review, Decatur, Illinois, July 20, 2002, pg. C8 Sports". Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Olympedia Biography, Mikhail Aleksandrov". Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ Alexsandrov's entry from www.sports-reference.com; retrieved 2009-07-23.
  4. ↑ ""Swimming, High School Boys, Champaign Centennial," The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, January 30, 2002, pg. 46". Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Northwestern University Sports Roster, Mihail Alexandrov". Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Northwestern University Sports, Coach Bob Groseth". Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  7. ↑ Alexandrov's bio Archived 2009-12-22 at the Wayback Machine from the Northwestern Athletics website; retrieved 2009-07-23.
  8. ↑ "Northwestern University Hall of Fame, Mike Alexandrov". Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Another day, another NCAA Record and Championship; Mike Alexandrov wins 100 breast in record fashion Deprecated link archived 2012-07-12 at archive.today; Northwestern Athletics website; published 2007-03-16, retrieved 2009-07-23.
  10. ↑ Northwestern's Mike Alexandrov Sets U.S. Open, NCAA Record in 100 breast; Potentially Sets American Standard Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine by Jason Marsteller, Swimming World Magazine online. Published 2007-03-16, retrieved 2009-07-23.
  11. ↑ Results from Day 2 of the 2009 Men's Division NCAA meet Archived 2009-03-31 at the Wayback Machine, where under the 100 breaststroke, Alexandrov is listed as holding the American Record (USA National Record). Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  12. ↑ "Mike Alexandrov (@alexandrov59)". Twitter. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
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