Michael started the World Cup for the first time in Berlin in November 2014 and finished 19th in the mass start and sixth place over 5000 m in Division B. At the individual distance world championships in 2015 in Heerenveen , he achieved 12th place over 5000 m and sixth place in the mass start. In the 2015/16 season he won the B World Cup race in Calgary over 5000 m and in Inzell over 1500 m. His best placement in the A World Cup was fifth over 5000 m in Inzell. At the highlight of the season, the 2016 World Single Distance Championships in Kolomna , he came in 12th place over 10,000 m, seventh place in the mass start and sixth place over 5000 m. At the beginning of the 2016/17 season, he won his first World Cup victory in the mass start in Harbin . This was followed by a third place in the team pursuit in Nagano and another victory over 5000 m in Astana . In January 2017, he took third place over 1500 m and second place over 5000 m in Berlin. At the 2017 World Individual Distance Championships in Gangwon , he won the bronze medal in the 5000 m and the silver medal in the team pursuit. He also took 22nd place in the mass start and 13th place over 1500 m. He finished the season in fifth place in the overall World Cup and in the mass start World Cup and in third place in the 5000/10000 m World Cup. In the 2017/18 season he came third in the team pursuit in Heerenveen and Salt Lake City . At the highlight of the season, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang , he was 14th over 1500 m and fourth over 5000 m.
Personal bests
500 m 37.44 sec. (installed on February 28, 2016 in Inzell)
1000 m 1: 11.44 min. (installed on February 27, 2016 in Inzell)
1500 m 1: 44.96 min. (installed on December 9, 2017 in Salt Lake City)
3000 m 3: 40.74 min. (installed on February 25, 2017 in Inzell)
5000 m 6: 09.68 min. (installed on December 10, 2017 in Salt Lake City)
10000 m 12: 58.07 min. (installed on November 21, 2015 in Salt Lake City)
Participation in World Championships and Olympic Winter Games
New Zealand
Astana