Editor’s note: this interview was conducted prior to the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas.
Leading up to this past weekend’s first World Cup stop in Berlin, Michael Andrew spent time sightseeing, training, and relaxing with friends and family in Israel. While there, in addition to floating in the Dead Sea, Andrew took time out of his schedule to record an interview with Guy Dar of ShvoongSportTV. The full interview can be watched below, but we have pulled out some of the more interesting quotes.
In response to being asked about the impact his appearance in Israel has in regards to training with local youth swimmers, Andrew responded,
I’m 24 years old, I’m very fortunate to have been, I’ve been swimming professionally for a decade now, which is kind of crazy to say because I still feel like I’m at the beginning of my career, um, but I recognize that there’s things my dad and I have discovered and learned um a lot of them the hard way by failing that we can give to these guys [the club swimmers] so that they can succeed quicker.
Andrew turned pro in 2013 at the age of 14, and in his decade of professional swimming has racked up one Olympic Gold medal, six World Championship medals (one of which is gold), and 11 short course World medals (six of which are gold).
In addition to swimming with younger swimmers, Andrew was noted to have spent some time in the water with Israeli breaststroker Jonathan Itzhaki, who recently raced at the European U23 Championships, saying, “… I train alone. I’m an individual athlete in an individual sport,… so whenever I get to get in the pool with another exceptional athlete, it’s fun because it pushes me.”
One of the major storylines from this summer, at least on the American side, was Andrew missing out on making the 2023 World Championships team. When the subject was brought up, Andrew was candid, stating,
There were a lot of things I was dealing outside of the pool emotionally spiritually that I just like, I think took away from my focus, which is a good thing to like, you know, miss the team and recognize now that had I not got through that experience I wouldn’t have learned from it, and I think I went into it a little too confident being like okay I haven’t missed a team in seven years like this can’t be that hard.
… There’s a silver lining in missing that team, and I think it’s nice to see that all coming to fruition, and it sets us up nicely for World Cups now and then, obviously, the rest of the year going into Paris.
Andrew also stated that, in regards to winning the 50 fly, “I do disagree with the selection… but at the end of the day I recognize the selection procedure is up to them [USA Swimming], … it’s up to me to be physically capable and prepared on the day to race and make that team under the same standards that every other athlete does.”
Swimswam actively covered the selection procedures and posted daily updated expected team rosters for Fukuoka during the course of the meet, but many spectators and even athletes were confused by the procedures, with Andrew noting that he posted about making the team but wasn’t fully aware that he hadn’t actually made the team until a few days later when asked if he received his papers to sign and join the team.
Andrew mentioned that he did not follow or watch worlds in Fukuoka, instead spending time outside of the competitive swimming world, hanging out with his friends, dating, and being happy about not focusing on competition.
Speaking on mental health and the rise in awareness of its importance in the swimming world in light of Caeleb Dressel, Adam Peaty, and Kristof Milak‘s recent absences, Andrew said, “There’s two sides to the coin… It’s important to understand how to deal with it and when to push through, and then obviously, there comes a time where you need to maybe step back for your own health.” “It’s really pivotal that athletes start to recognize their values not tied to their success in the sport.”
On speaking about his schedule Andrew was open, stating his main goal for the rest of this season is to make the 2024 World Champ team with a focus on the 50 free, 200 IM, and 100 breaststroke, all three of which he notes are Olympic events.
To note the full US selection procedures for the 2024 Doha Worlds can be found here, but roughly only the fastest swimmer in each individual Olympic event will qualify, and if the top 10 swimmers opt-out, then no swimmer will be selected for the event. SwimSwam compiled the top 10 swimmers in each event, and currently, Andrew is ranked 3rd in the 50 free, 8th in the 100 breast, and 10th in the 100 fly, meaning that he would need swimmers ahead of him to scratch.
As for the 2024 US Trials, he states his focus will be 50 free, 100 breast, and 100 fly, with the 200 IM being a wildcard due to the scheduling of the trial program. Andrew also teased that maybe the 200 breast would be on the table but is very up in the air on the event as it would be a departure from his normal training program.
In Berlin, Andrew ended up winning the 100-fly and placing second in the 50 free, and despite stating a focus on the 100 breast and 200 IM, he did not race the 100 breast and ended up scratching the final of the 200 IM, after having placed 4th in prelims.
MA holds a mirror up to Americans which is why he has such a divisive fan base. I can’t wait to see this guy hit top form again
Well, Americans as a whole are already very divided right now.
this isnt false.
He is not in Israel right now. He has no control on when this is published.
He was there before Hamas invaded
Yes he’s been a “sponsored athlete” since he was 14 for the last 10 years but honestly his interviews seem rookie at best. I want to like him but I just can’t. Yes he’s done more than most but I just don’t see him pulling thru again when it counts. Hopefully I’m wrong. But still not backing him.
What makes you think he is a rookie at interviews? He gives good insight into his training, his feelings on his performances, and he gives plenty of respect and gratitude to others. Unless you just mean that he is not “controversial” enough?
what’re you talking about? He is super articulate and happy go lucky sounding when he speaks. I used to not like him for political reasons but then I realized that I should be judging someone by their character, not who they vote for.
Who you vote for is a reflection of your character.
Not necessarily. In fact that is complete BS. I despise the maga people in power but I know some fine folks that voted for trump. People that would run, not walk to give you the shirt off their backs. People are influenced by deep seeded family ties to politics. It is indoctrinated. Do you really think an 18 year old has enough life experience as a new voter to make a super enlightened and well researched decision about which candidate is best for the country? No, they are too busy building their social base and getting ready to learn a trade or get into college.
I was mad at Michael until I found out he coaches kids. at the Michael Andrew swim academy in San Diego County.
I am a swim parent from San Diego and aware of all the clubs in the area. MA swimming academy is an online coaching club, available through an app. Members predominantly are from HI, although some listed being from Encinitas, CA, but all compete at HI meets. Check the swimcloud for more info. Listed coach is Peter Andrew.
Every Games (WCs and Olympics) has someone who juuuust misses out…..their stories are often intriguing.
Andrews is well known.
Dekkers is one that seems to have had a happy ending.
Others are sadly crushed and disappear.
Not just for trials, but so many at the Games themselves. Brendon Smith’s heat time in Tokyo would have won the final. Now it seems he has zero chance of ever winning an Olympic gold because his event has exploded with talent. I wonder if he thinks about that often?
I mean Carson Foster went the fastest time in the world that year in the IM and now he has to deal with Marchand. Also Duncan Scott who missed out on two individual golds in the slimmest of margins and now has to face generational talents in those events. Really shows that sometimes despite a bright future the window of opportunity may only be one year
Emma McKeon didn’t get a chance to swim her best two events for almost a decade cos she had a pair of world champions take up the two spots
Well she went the second fastest time ever at Tokyo, so that wasn’t really the problem.
In fairness, she did have opportunities to beat them at trials. Like I don’t envision a world where she wins multiple gold in Rio just because she qualified. But yeah that is true.
Being from a big swimming nation is, on the whole, a massive advantage. But for some it really does hurt them in some ways.
Really glad that missing the team appears to have opened his eyes and motivated him to train harder
I didn’t read the part where he stated he was going to train harder. No snark intended – seriously, I didn’t read (or hear) him say that. I might have missed it. If so, good for him. If not, he’s in for another comeuppance in June.
He’s been training a lot of 200 pace in all 4 strokes based on Peter Andrew’s IG. Definitely putting in the work! If anything his endurance is better than his top end at the moment as we saw in the 100fly/50fly results.
Have you seen a video where he does more than 25 yards straight?
He’s been swimming multiple laps yes. 200 pace. Long course 1-2 x weekly from the looks of it.
Yes lots of videos are posted
In fact I have seen videos of him swimming repeat 75’s.
I learned from personal USRPT experience that training “200 pace” is not the same as doing the significant threshold work that necessary to swim an elite 200m swim. Is MA doing truly doing the latter?
I infer that his goal is to use the endurance for training to swim fast 100s stroke versus 200s. The 200IM may be regarded more as 4 x 50m on no rest versus a 200 at least that’s the way I look at it.
I have found that elite swimmers who can hold their 200 pace for 20-30 50’s on an interval that allows about 15 seconds rest are ready to drop time.
MA does 60×50 holding pace.
Hahahahaha
Michael Andrew can compete for South Africa due to his dad…. Would be ironic if he beat Americans at Paris
He would need to take a 3 year break from competing in order to switch nations, so he couldn’t in Paris. Could in LA if he really wanted to (and I believe there are other criteria as well)
I don’t think he has any intention to do so for the next 2 cycles but perhaps by 2032 his form will start to drop off and such a move may make sense although it is still unlikely imo since he has always lived and competed here. It almost seems a bit disrespectful to South African swimmers unless they’re non competitive in some of MA’s events.