Michael Houlie

Michael Houlie (right) and Alexander Milanovich with their 2018 Summer Youth Olympics 50-meter breaststroke medals.

Born on June 27, 2000, Michael matriculated from Diocesan College (Bishops) in 2018. He swam with coach Csanad Feldhausz at the AquaSharks Academy swimming club in Camps Bay, and with Hilton Slack at the SwimLab. He initially played water polo at Bishops before switching exclusively to swimming in 2016. 

After matriculating, Michael earned a swimming scholarship to the University of Tennessee, where he earned All-American honours throughout his college career and won medals at both SEC and NCAA level, while completing a Business Science degree.

In 2015 the school noted his achievements in the school newsletter: Michael Houlie took part in the South African Level 3 National Swimming Age Group Championship: he achieved a total of six medals (2 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze); he set a new South African National Age Group Record in the 50m Breast Stroke for 14-year-old boys (with a time of 30.79 seconds); he swam Personal Best times in all his individual events; he attained Youth Elite status (a select group of age group swimmers that have achieved both Senior and Youth qualification times); he qualified for the 2015 South African National Senior Aquatic Championship and South African Youth Championship, and was awarded his Western Province Swimming Colours.

Michael Houlie with diving coach David Parrington at Tennessee. 

At the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games held in the Bahamas, Michael Houlie won three medals -

• Gold (50m Breaststroke): He won the final with a dominant time of 27.68 seconds.
• Gold (100m Breaststroke): He captured his second individual title, clocking a time of 1:01.86.
• Silver (200m Breaststroke): He earned a silver medal with a time of 2:16.97, finishing just behind his compatriot Luan Grobbelaar.

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  Michael with Izaak Bastian (right) and silver medalist Samuel Khoo.

Summer of 2019

Michael placed 23rd in the 100 breast event during the 2019 NCAA Championships (3/27-30/19) with a time of 52.64.  

At the 30th Summer Universiade (World University Games) in Naples, Italy, Michael Houlie became one of the fastest sprint breaststrokers in the world. Houlie broke the 2015 tournament record with a time of 26.98 seconds, and in the semi-finals, set a lifetime best of 26.82 seconds. In the final, he ultimately took home the silver medal with a time of 27,19.

In July 2019, Michael swam at the FINA World Championships held in Korea. In the Men's 50m Breaststroke, Houlie touched the wall in 27.41 seconds during the morning prelims. He missed qualifying for the 16-swimmer semi-finals by a mere three hundredths of a second, ultimately finishing 19th overall.

In August, at the 12th African Games in Casablanca, Morocco, Michael won three medals across individual and relay events. He won the 50m breaststroke in 27,41, and took bronze in the 100m event. He also won two relay gold medals. 

Michael Houlie has had a whirlwind 2025. Right before he was set to compete at the 2025 World University Games, he had to get emergency surgery to remove his appendix. This also meant he had to take 10 weeks out of the water and ease his way back into training, something he was not used to at all. But through the slower pace, Houlie has managed to find joy. In order to pay his bills, the South African is now employed at his alma mater, working as the events manager at the Allan Jones pool, where he also trains. Houlie says that though it is time-consuming and hard, he has enjoyed the balance of work and training. Racing at the US Open, Houlie took a win in the 50 breast, touching in 26.72.

https://swimswam.com/through-appendix-surgery-and-working-full-time-michael-houlie-is-still-looking-to-la2028/