By Terin Frodyma on SwimSwam
St. Petersburg, Russia, native Mikhail Povaliaev has committed to the University of Wisconsin as a part of the Badger men’s 2026 recruiting class.
Povaliaev, who represents Hapoel Dolfin Netanya, logged a 4th-place finish in the 50 free at the 2023 World Junior Championships (LCM). After having set a new lifetime best in the prelims (22.96) and the semifinals (22.84), Povaliaev clocked another career best in the finals, touching just one spot off the podium in 22.59. He also added a lifetime best in the 100 free, just missing the semifinals in 50.78, good enough for an 18th-place finish.
Outside of his sprint-free specialty, Povaliaev also holds some sprint butterfly and backstroke speed, posting a long-course 50 fly best of 25.34 from the Israel Youth Championships in July of 2023 and a long-course 100 backstroke best time of 1:00.27 from the Far Western LC Championships in July of 2022.
Povaliaev also raced at the Israel Olympic Trials in 2024, where he placed 11th in the 50 free (23.72) and 22nd in the 100 free (52.73), and added an 8th-place finish in the 50 back (27.39).
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Best Times Converted to SCY:
Event LCM SCY Conversion 50 Free 22.59 19.63 100 Free 50.94 44.45 200 Free 2:02.46 1:47.44 100 Back 1:00.27 53.21The Wisconsin men are coming off a 5th place finish at the 2026 Men’s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships.
Based on his converted best times, Povaliaev would have been projected to finish in a tie for 13th in the 50 free and 34th in the 100 free.
The sprint free upside is a clear given, but the lack of a sure 3rd event should be an interesting story to watch throughout his first year in Madison. The additional international and high-level placements at major junior international meets are also very promising signs for things to come.
The addition of Povaliaev adds to a solid point total from Big Tens, having scored 46.5 in the 50 free and another 27 in the 100 free.
His times also fare well in comparison to last season’s roster, as his projection would have been only behind Ben Wiegand (19.21) and Cooper Scharff (19.27) in the 50 free, and would have been 7th in the 100 free on last season’s Badgers roster.
His 50 free also fares well for a potential relay spot, considering he would have been one of just three Badger men under that 20-second mark from a flat start (based on the conversion from LCM).
Povaliaev joins a Wisconsin 2026 recruiting class and Benjamin Cescon, Ashton Joswiak, Max Stewart, and Joshua Smith.
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