Social Kick Podcast: Michael Andrew Reveals Plans For Coaching Change in First Post-Trials Interview
At times, he was vulnerable. At some points, he was emotional. In other periods, he spoke with excitement. Michael Andrew recently sat with the hosts of the Social Kick Podcast for an in-depth interview that is a must-watch. And, in the middle of the interview with Luke Paddington, Bryan Lundquist and John Mullen, Andrew dropped a bombshell about his future in the sport.
Three years after helping the U.S. men win gold in the 400-meter medley relay while swimming in three individual finals at the Tokyo Olympics, Andrew was not part of the U.S. team bound for Paris this year. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, he finished fifth in the 50 free, 0.12 away from a spot on the team, and in the event in which he holds the American record, the 100 breaststroke, he faded to eighth.
Now, with three months having passed since that disappointing selection meet, Andrew has revealed details about the future of his swimming career. In his interview with the Social Kick Podcast that ran more than an hour, Andrew reflected on missing the team and what it was like to watch the Games without being present. Andrew also announced the first coaching change of his swimming career, which came as a shock.
Having trained under his father, Peter Andrew, and without any teammates for the entirety of his accomplished career, Andrew now plans to join a larger group and add new elements to his training. Previously, Andrew’s work in the pool consisted exclusively Ultra-Short Race Pace Training (USRPT). Plenty of other elite-level swimmers have thrived with race-pace-centric approaches, but never to the extent of Andrew, who has been the face of USRPT.
Andrew did not share what his training destination will be, but he did share that even in this new chapter, his father will still be involved in his swimming career, particularly in managing the MA Swim Academy. Andrew has excelled in particular in the 50-meter events in his career, qualifying for the finals of all four 50-meter stroke races at the 2019 World Championships, and he discussed potential future choices for his event lineup.
During the interview, Andrew spoke candidly about the hurt he experienced when he missed out on the Paris Games, along with speaking with a therapist for the first time in his life.
The Social Kick podcast has recently featured Thomas Heilman and Regan Smith.
About time. Andrews is the only American swimmer with the potential to break the 1:54.00 in the 200 IM. He should study the greatest athlete of all time, Edwin Moses. Undefeated for over 9 years and over 100 races in the grueling 400 meters hurdles. Moses was the first man to start the 400 meters all out and originally, he would carry the grand piano after 200 meters. Then gradually further at 300 and 350 meters and finally 400 meters all out and world records and Olympic gold followed. He should study the greatest sprinters in swimming starting with Vlad and Caleb. Just imagine Leon and Andrews on a 1:52 pace with Leon a second behind after the breast leg. Michael laying down a 26.5 second free leg. if I were his coach his breast leg would be a second faster and he would be competing over 20 races around the world, race like Katinka. He isn’t what I call race hardened, he should have been racing Caleb in all the skins races, all the World Cup races and every local race. He has the potential of 57 low in the breaststroke and 1:52 high in the 200 IM.
MA has all the answers. They just haven’t been proven yet!
Joining the revolution is he? That would be hilarious. Or the former distance team next door?