How Fast Will Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Andrew Swim at World Championships?

2020 Olympic champion Michael Andrew qualified for five individual events at the 2022 U.S. World Championships Trials. In this interview he unpacks what he liked, didn’t like, and how he intends to improve.

Michael’s lineup includes 100m  butterfly, a race we have never seen him swim on the big international stage. Can Michael go 49 in the 100m butterfly? He wants too. I think he’s got a 49 in him–but not this year.

2022 Michael Andrew World Championship Predictions!

Michael’s U.S. Olympic Trials was great. However, his Olympic performance was — being diplomatic — probably not what he wanted. Michael has something to prove in Budapest, and that’s what is driving these predictions.

50 breast – 26.39 – a new America record
100 breast – 58.2 – on the bubble to make the podium
50 fly – 22.7 – bronze
100 fly – 50.6 – bronze
50 free – 21. 3 – bronze

Also…without  Adam Peaty in the mix, how will that impact Michael’s medal chances in the 50-100 breaststroke?

But who cares what I think. What do you think? Give me your best expert swimming analysis.

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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

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joe cavanagh
2 years ago

I met Michel and his family in San Diego while he was training this winter.. What a wonderful kid. And his parents and sister are class people thru and thru…His mother used to be a Gladiator on TV in England…Shawna was her name, I think.

Peaty55Paris
2 years ago

I say we petition FINA for a 150 IM to be created and finally secure MA an individual gold.

TmSwm
2 years ago

Would love him with Salo. Just what he needs

Thomas
2 years ago

I would like too see him or nick fink break the American record in all the breastrokes keep the progression rolling.

Susan
2 years ago

He still swims very hot and cold. I don’t yet see a big break out at worlds. Just hope by 2024 he can actually get the WR in the 2IM. I think up against the best, in anything over a 50, he spins his wheels like an age grouper. I can’t imagine training every day alone. He has learned to swim fast, but not race actual people. Wonder what would happen if he trained with his competitors?

TmSwm
Reply to  Susan
2 years ago

He should train with Salo

Brad Burget
2 years ago

If he gets stronger then he can get faster but that is for him to measure.

Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
Reply to  Brad Burget
2 years ago

That would mean training at the University of Texas under head coach Eddie Reese.

Bing Dong
Reply to  Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
2 years ago

One morning session in the diving well for an aerobic set and it’s game over…

Gulliver’s Swimming Travels
Reply to  Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
2 years ago

He will literally never train with anyone other than his father, and his father will never get any other athletes to work with him full time.

anonymous
Reply to  Brad Burget
2 years ago

He has been getting faster. Where have you been? He has had a very nice progression in the 50.100 breast, 50. 100 fly, and 200 Im. Even a best time in the 50 free.

Swimmer
2 years ago

If ma can go 50 low on fly its possible they put him on fly, fink on breast, and dressel on free. Without apple, that free leg is gonna be pretty weak.

KimJongSpoon
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

Curry and Held have both proved themselves enough to not be called “pretty weak”

Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
Reply to  KimJongSpoon
2 years ago

Does anyone even bother to check out the Speedo World Rankings anymore?

Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

Curry, Held, Kibler would like a choice word with you in private.

Last edited 2 years ago by Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
anonymous
Reply to  Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
2 years ago

Held can’t finish and Kibler is not that fast compared to the rest of the world or experienced internationally.

Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

Speedo World Rankings
Men’s 100 meter freestyle
Dressel – 2nd
Curry – 7th
Held – 11th
Kibler – 13th

Check out the Speedo World Rankings on the website.

Furthermore, the Russians have been booted out of the tournament

Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

The difference between Dressel and Andrew in the men’s 100 meter butterfly is 0.87 seconds. The difference between Dressel and Curry in the men’s 100 freestyle is 0.25 seconds. Congratulations! You failed the math test.

Tony
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

Not having Dressel do the fly leg in a medley is insane.

John Kennedy
Reply to  Tony
2 years ago

Mixed medley….

Chad
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

Despite all the downvotes you’re getting, I don’t think this is a bad take at all. There definitely is a possibility that no one besides Dressel from the US goes any better than a 48.2 in their flat start 100 and 47.5 from a relay roll. If that’s the case and we see Dressel put up 100 free times similar to what he’s done the past few years and MA ends up going a 50 low in his 100 fly, then it makes sense to use both of them on the medley.

Good news about the medley is that it’s the last event of the meet. The coaches will have all the info they need by that time about how… Read more »

anonymous
Reply to  Chad
2 years ago

It may be hard to judge based on the meet because MA and CD have some events close together.

Fean Darris
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

Prelims are either gonna be:

Held, Armstrong, Reiss, Kibler

Or

(Rest Held)
Kibler, Reiss, Armstrong, Curry

Prelims are just gonna be an swim off between Reiss, Kibler and Armstrong: Held is not safe in this regard either. Curry’s spot as an anchor should be guaranteed but he should probably proof he has what it takes too.

Held usually dies the last 25 so if the coaches think he’s good enough for the finals they will rest him.

Only guy who deserves a pass is Dressel 😈

Last edited 2 years ago by Fean Darris
Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
2 years ago

That’s men’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay gold medalist.

anonymous
Reply to  Smith-King-Huske-Curzan
2 years ago

Olympic Gold medal USA men’s medley relay>>>>individual gold medal.

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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