SWIMMING SUITS MICHAEL MINICHIELLO 

Age: 18

High school: Coral Glades

College: Florida State

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

Had it not been for the swim suit, Michael Minichiello may have started competitive swimming much earlier.

It wasn’t until his father, captain of the John Adams High School swim team in New York, convinced him to go out for the sport that Minichiello gave it a second thought.

Before he climbed into the pool, he was happy skinboarding at the beach or playing recreation basketball.

“I am glad he convinced me,” Minichiello said. “I am kind of disappointed in myself that it was a factor why I didn’t go out my freshman year. I let the whole factor of having to wear a Speedo wear me down. Now you can’t get me out of one.”

Minichiello started swimming his sophomore year of high school. He competes in the 50 and 100 freestyle, 50 and 100 butterfly and all three relays.

“Ever since I started I have enjoyed it,” Minichiello said. “It’s a great sport and great way to stay in shape. I was a strong swimmer at the beach but learned a lot more when I started competing.”

Minichiello more than made up for lost time honing his skills with the Coral Springs Swim Club. One of his finest moments was when he broke a minute in the 100 butterfly.  

“I did it at a club meet,” Minichiello said. “I was at the Division II championships but got disqualified in prelims so I couldn’t swim finals. I thought that was my last chance to break a minute. I had been trying to do it for a while.

"The next weekend I did a time trial at JOs and broke a minute. I was really happy. It was a nice way to go out.”

Minichiello said he hopes to either walk on at FSU or swim recreationally with a swim club in Tallahassee where he plans to study pre-med.

“Swimming definitely gave me a lot of discipline that carried over in school and will help me in college,” he said. “It gave me a focus inside and outside of the water. It was great meeting so many people and making friends who I will keep in touch with for a long time.”

Sharon Robb can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it