2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
- June 15-23, 2024
- Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
- LCM (50 Meters)
- Meet Central
- Broadcast Info
- SwimSwam’s Definitive Guide to Trials
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Pre-Scratch Psych Sheet
Despite only swimming the 200 IM once over the past two years, Tokyo Olympic finalist Michael Andrew is entered in the event as the No. 25 seed at next week’s U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The 25-year-old Andrew won the 200 IM at the last U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021 with a time of 1:55.44. He went on to place 5th at the Tokyo Olympics in 1:57.31. But the 200 IM hasn’t been a focus for Andrew this Olympic cycle, with his only time this season a 2:01.00 from the World Cup stop in Berlin last October. Before that, he hadn’t contested the event since April of 2022 (1:59.11), which was the last time he broke the two-minute barrier.
Does Andrew have a trick up his sleeve in the 200 IM? It’s not entirely out of the question for the versatile sprint specialist. However, given the other events on his lineup, it would be a small miracle if Andrew doesn’t drop the 200 IM in favor of the 50 free and 100 fly.
Andrew will begin his nine-day run at Lucas Oil Stadium with an appearance in the 100 breaststroke, where he’s the No. 5 seed (59.52) and American record holder at 58.14. Then he’ll have a few days off before his schedule gets busy again on Day 6 (June 20) with semifinals of the 50 free and 200 IM. Day 7 (June 21) is even crazier as a triple looms with the 50 free final, 200 IM final, and 100 butterfly semifinal all in the same session. Andrew is seeded 3rd in the 50 free (21.64) and 9th in the 100 fly (51.66), so it would be surprising to see him scratch either event in favor of the 200 IM.
Six months ago, Andrew confirmed that his primary events this summer will be the 50 free, 100 breast, and 100 fly.
“It’d be nice to swim the 200 IM, but I think it pulls me a little bit away from my 50 and my top-end speed,” Andrew said. “But also the Olympic schedule is a bit wonky; realistically, I’d rather take two events if my Trials goes perfect, God willing, could make the 100 fly and do that 50 free double. I would say those are my three events (50 free, 100 fly, 100 breast).”
The top Americans in the 200 IM this season are Shaine Casas (1:56.06), Carson Foster (1:56.97), Chase Kalisz (1:57.43), and Trenton Julian (1:58.46). Andrew’s lifetime best sits at 1:55.26 from 2021.
Over/under for Michael Andrew’s last 50
Up for over 30.4 down for under
All the haters of MA, here is another place ‘to down vote’.
Me, I’ve loved watching his career, ups and downs, but always authentic in who he is.
I wish him well, and to swim 3 events @ Paris, not including the 200 IM, is quite OK with me.
Go, MA!
Here for the comments. You all did not disappoint.
😳😳😳🐐🐐🐐😤😤😤 HES COOKING SOMETHING 🧑🍳🧑🍳🧑🍳🔥🔥🔥🍳🍳🍳
It’s barbecue chicken on the beaches of Costa Rica.
He won’t have anything up his sleeve, because he doesn’t wear sleeves…his arms are too short.
His trick is to pray that he doesn’t die second half, whether is a 1br or 2im
ANDREW gave me the feeling that the strength is still quite strong, but the individual final can not play their own level, the relay performance is also ok
Wut
I can’t decide if this decision is driven by ego, is a middle finger to the haters, or is an attempt at grabbing headlines. I’d absolutely love to see him follow this all the way through but I don’t see it happening.
MA & his fam give the middle finger to all who don’t do or think their way. MA doesn’t aim to grab subplot headlines cause he thinks he is the ultimate and only headline. ever once hear him mention his olympic really teammates? nah, cause he wants all the credit.
For a male athlete who has yet to win an individual medal in a 100/200 meter event at a major international competition including the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
I’ve only seen the opposite, for years.
At the age of 17, Missy Franklin accomplished more at the 2012 Summer Olympics than Michael Andrew has accomplished in his entire swimming career.
Individual World Record (LCM)
Andrew – No
Franklin – Yes
Individual Gold Medal (100/200 meters)
Andrew – No
Franklin – Yes
What headlines?
That quote from 6 months ago sounds almost delusional. His 50free has been meh and 100fly unimpressive. I just don’t see how these are his best events when he has gone a 1:55:26 in the 2IM. 200IM is his best chance to qualify (behind the 100br) It is quite possible he doesn’t qualify in any of these events and if he misses in the 100br he could easily not make the team.
Hes been fairly consistent in the 50 fr
He has been consistently 21.6-21.9 but that’s not fast enough. It will take 21.3 or 21.4 to make the team.
to be able to go 1:55 in the 2IM and then struggle doing anything over 50 meters makes me scratch my head. Hes still a young guy. I will never understand his strategy for being such a great swimmer. If he was 32, I’d get it.
He has the talent to win every event he enters or get top 2, but he isn’t putting in the work it seems to do it, or hes lost his edge, or the MA swim academy just isnt cutting it (my guess). Guy should be training with Dressel and Liendo in Florida.
Anything we don’t like about him aside, he is an elite swimmer that has more talent than anyone here. It… Read more »