Life in the Fast Lane: Brady Kendall Is Winning in School and in the Pool

Photos Courtesy of Brady Kendall and Michigan Athletics

Brady Kendall loves science and swimming — and she’s racing towards big goals in both.

She’s on the fast track toward her PharmD degree, finishing her bachelor’s degree in just three years and launching into her graduatestudies a year early. All the while, she has been a force in the pool for the Michigan Women’s Swimming and Diving team, collecting championship titles, All-American honors, and relay wins that lit up the Big Ten. But when talking with Brady, she makes it clear she is a scholar first, then athlete. Beyond the finish line, she has turned her focus to a career in pharmacy.  

Whether she’s slicing through the water in a butterfly sprint or racing through a rigorous pharmacy degree, her life is a blur of discipline, speed, and focus. Her determination and drive propelled her to her biggest splash so far: a coveted spot on the 2025–2026 USA Swimming national team.

At a national meet last June, her 50-meter butterfly time was the third fastest in the nation. “When my coach told me my time could qualify for the national team, I thought, ‘Wait, what? Are you serious?’” Kendall recalls, still laughing at the memory. “I was in shock.”

Shock gave way to celebration when, in September, when USA Swimming officially announced her name among the elite. Next summer, she’ll swim against the best of the best on the national stage.

Michigan, a Perfect Match

Kendall has been swimming competitively since she was about 7, following in the wake of her father and brothers. By high school, she was breaking records, winning state championships, and cementing her reputation as a fierce competitor.

Her interest in pharmacy was just as natural. “I’ve always loved science. I’m fascinated with how drugs work, how they’re designed, and how they affect performance and health,” she says. “Plus, as an athlete, I’m really focused on optimizing the body’s performance. 

When college recruiters came calling, U-M, a powerhouse in both swimming and academics with a #2-ranked  pharmacy program, it was the perfect match for her twin loves. “Michigan offered everything,” she says. “Elite athletics, elite academics, and a balance of life outside the pool.” Plus, for a football fanatic like Kendall, there was the thrill of rooting for the guys in winged helmets in the Big House.

Scholar Before Athlete

Balancing 20+ hours of weekly practice with pharmacy coursework isn’t easy. Freshman year was an adjustment; sophomore year taught her the importance of communicating with coaches and professors to juggle her coursework and training schedule. But she found her rhythm. “I tell myself school comes first. That’s why I’m here,” Brady says. “I’m a scholar-athlete, not an athlete-scholar.”

Her secret? Prioritization, organization, and ruthless time management. Despite her intense schedule, she makes sure to carve out time for herself—dinners with teammates, football games with family, even the occasional round of golf. 

The strategy works. Kendall has claimed four Big Ten relay championships and five CSCAA All-American titles, while earning Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors and stellar grades.

Thriving in Two Communities

In the College of Pharmacy, Kendall has found the same kind of camaraderie that fuels her swim team. “In the pool, we compete and push each other, but at the end of the day, we’re a team. We’re in it together.” Likewise, she has found her classmates to be supportive, always willing to answer questions and share resources. “We’re competing for grades, but we want everyone to succeed,” she says.

She finds herself in a dual role; as a senior on the swim team, she is a mentor in the pool, but in the first weeks of her PharmD program, she’s on the receiving end of support from her Pharmacy Phamily.  “I help freshmen on the team, and in pharmacy school, I can ask for help for myself. It’s reassuring to know support is always there.”

A Golden Opportunity?

As she looks ahead, Brady is leaning toward a clinical pharmacy career, drawn to direct patient care. But she’s in no rush to decide—after all, she’s got plenty to balance already. “I feel like I’m working two full-time jobs,” she says. “But I also feel like I’m thriving.”

Her selection to the national team raises a glittering new possibility: the Olympics. The 50 fly—her signature event—will debut for the first time in Los Angeles in 2028. It’s a dream opportunity, but one she’s weighing carefully.

“There are ups and downs in swimming,” Brady admits. “Part of me wants to focus on pharmacy. But with the Olympic 50 fly now an option… it’s hard not to think about it.”

For now, she’s leaving the decision open: finish her collegiate season in March, test the waters at nationals next summer, and see how much joy she still finds in competition. “If I need a break, I’ll take it. I’ll still have time.”