To say that Michael Andrew has done a lot of racing this summer would be an understatement. He went to 5 meets in 8 weeks, at essentially every level of competition. An LSC meet, a sectional meet, JR nationals, US Open, and Olympic Trials. He had varying levels of success at each one, but much like Katinka Hosszu, Andrew tells us that he uses them for training as much as he does for race practice. He also has some interesting insight on what his future holds.
Upon reflecting on Olympic Trials and the Olympics, Michael thinks there’s more in the tank. He was inspired by so many other young up and coming swimmers who made the Olympic team and won medals, in many cases gold. He thinks there can be changes made to his training, specifically uping his amount of race pace yardage, that will yield better results in the future.
As for the present, Michael Andrew will be spending a bit of time in Europe competing at the World Cup stops, which starts in Paris on August 26.
MA will be in US Tokyo olympic team in 100m breast and 200m IM…..i bet it
I like MA. I like him a lot. I think his dad has done a remarkable job getting him to this point. As a Masters swimmer with relatively limited time to devote to training, I find USRPT a very effective method for my circumstances. At some point, however, I think MA would benefit from being in the pool training with similar quality athletes on a day-in, day out basis, as well as some outside coaching. If he’s gonna stick with USPRT, I think his 200 IM free leg would benefit greatly from a season of training for the 500 free. The longer sets at race pace would help with that closing speed.
I am amazed at the negative comments made about MA. All the comments that he would not make olympics. He just missed! His first Trials! His brstk was incredible. Numerous second swims at Trials. Coach Peter is continually tweaking the program. MA brstk technique has improved greatly this year. He has added underwater travel. Swim coaches need to be open to different approaches. And what an incredible giving and loving family. Just check out Peter or Michael at meets. Gracious. Always willing to share and help if they can. We are so blessed to have them in our District!
I don’t believe anyone has said anything negative about Michael or his family as far as whether or not they are good people. I agree with you Michael is a great sportsman on deck, and a fantastic competitor! That is not at all what is in question. It has also been mentioned that he has improved in his breaststroke and in the IM. However it is concerning that he has made so little time improvement in the other strokes that he used to be very strong in like 100 freestyle 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. So one has to ask the question is it his training? That is a very legitimate question. We are just fans of the sport talking… Read more »
If he breaks US Age Group records on World Cup circuit, do they count ?
Nance – they would, although in non-pre-Olympic years (like the 2016 upcoming series) the meets will be in short course meters – and USA Swimming doesn’t track short course meters age group records.
Last year, for example, the series was held in long course meters, so swimmers could set national age group records at those meets.
Unless he breaks an American Record
56.88
I’m anxious to see how his shift in training benefits him. Anyone paying attention knows his time improvements were very minimal over the past 2 years in several of what used to be dominant events for him. The field is catching up in all but 100 breast and 200 IM. Time will tell. Now is the time to stop thinking you’ve got the answers and start re-evaluating. I’m not certain that race pace is the main reason why MA had so much age group success… It could have very well been that he was unusually tall and strong with a full time focus on meets and results while others his age were going to school and being well… Kids. But… Read more »
“Didn’t put in the work”…? You say Olympics is the dream, and you say didn’t put in the work? Why don’t I believe him? “I could’ve been there if I put in the work”… Lol wow. I wonder if that’s a coming mechanism.
In a way that comes off arrogant to me.. If he wanted to make the team like he says HE WOULD’VE PUT HIS HEART AND SOUL INTO THE TRAINING leading up. sorry Michael don’t make excuses for something like that. You’re an awesome swimmer but that just comes off weak to me. You either put in the work or you don’t. its simple.
i think he trained hard but is just making excuses for himself to look better
I agree with your comment, very arrogant indeed
Could of made it but didn’t want to.
Take a look at the guys physique as a 17 year old, a boy in a mans body
Tokyo 2020 will show what he is capable of doing
Can someone explain what he is doing in the story’s cover shot? Is that a backstroke breakout? Cuz if so, WTF?
Backstroke flipturn possibly??
YADA – not 100% sure, but I do think it is a backstroke breakout. There was some chatter a couple months ago about how a few swimmers, I think from a particular program, were experimenting with pulling across their bodies during the breakout to get more power.
tennessee were the first to do this in meets that i know of, but it was last year or even the year before
Interesting. First I’ve heard of it
Interesting. First I’ve heard of it. Seems kinda gimmicky to me
the theory is that if you are kicking out on your side (which for some is far more efficient, rather than rotating 100 degrees to breakout or use the bottom arm with little to no help from the hips/core) it gets you to the surface and then the second arm stroke connects to the core.
i played with it for a few athletes. 50/50. the more ‘athletic’ ones took to it and made it look OK, the more ‘swimmer’ types didn’t like it.
the second stroke on this turn would be the first stroke on a regular turn, sonin essence it is ‘adding’ a half stroke.
“Innovative”….that’s the word you are looking for…. “innovative”….
Yada, are you trying to post comments using my name now?
Interesting. First I’ve heard of it. Looks kinda gimmicky to me.
I wonder if we do the tour training like Ervin did. Basically spend a some time going between a few clubs working with several coaching.