American Olympic gold medalist Michael Andrew has made the move to train in Hawaii full-time.
Andrew, 26, announced last year that he was moving on from his father, Peter Andrew, as his coach after the two had worked side-by-side throughout Michael’s competitive career.
Just over one month later, Andrew revealed that he was joining the pro group at Arizona State University under coach Herbie Behm, who has turned the Sun Devils into a powerhouse sprint program over the last few seasons.
Recent social media posts have indicated Andrew was spending a lot of time in Hawaii, though nothing was confirmed. SwimSwam reached out to Andrew about his new training base, but has not received a response.
However, referencing Hawaii, he said he was “back for good” in a recent Instagram comment, with his bio also currently showing Oahu as his pinned location.
Behm confirmed to SwimSwam that Andrew spent six weeks in Hawaii following the 2025 World Championships, and after that experience, decided to make the permanent move due to both the lifestyle and his willingness to reunite with Peter and see the rest of his career through together.
Andrew has been working with Peter, who announced in August that he was heading up a new USRPT program at a club in Oahu, since September, Behm said.
“I’m fully supportive of his move and appreciate the season he spent with us at ASU,” Behm told SwimSwam. “Michael is a great guy and left here with no hard feelings whatsoever.”
Andrew made the original coaching change on the heels of a disappointing 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, missing the American Olympic team after finishing 5th in the men’s 50 free (21.81), 8th in the 100 breast (1:00.11) and 16th in the 100 fly (52.98) in Indianapolis.
Andrew also narrowly missed the 2023 U.S. World Championship team, meaning he failed to qualify for two straight major U.S. teams after qualifying for four straight from the 2018 Pan Pacs to the 2022 World Championships.
After heading to ASU, Andrew bounced back by qualifying for the 2025 World Championship team by placing 2nd in the men’s 50 breast (26.92) and 50 fly (23.21) at the U.S. National Championships in June. His swim in the 50 fly also ended up earning him a spot on the 2026 Pan Pacific Championship roster.
At the 2025 Worlds, he placed 16th in the 50 fly (23.23) and 25th in the 50 breast (27.37).
He also attended all three legs of the World Cup this fall, only earning two final appearances in the 50 breast in Toronto (4th) and Westmont (7th).
At the U.S. Open in early December, he raced all four 50s, placing 14th in the 50 back (25.65), 15th in the 50 fly (24.07), 20th in the 50 breast (28.02) and 28th in the 50 free (22.95).
I can’t see the Hawaiian surfing lifestyle is going to translate into pool success for him, unless he can channel Duke Kahanamoku
I wish MA the best! He knows what’s best for him better than anyone else.
This has been a nicer comment section than MA articles from when he was 13-14.
Which is really weird, given ~his whole deal~ once he actually became an adult.
I think the training they did has become a lot more accepted though, so that contributed to the hate a lot more. (And the “pro” thing, people really did not like that.) Combine the two and a bunch of chuds really wanted to go after him.
Now that he’s effectively toast*, people don’t wanna kick a guy when he’s down. Sorta like the Lochte medal sales posts.
*I’m never giving up on the talent, my man could for sure win multiple medals in LA. It’s just…got some pretty long odds rn.
The vitriol for young swimmers and parenting/coaching in regards to those swimmers is wild.
Lochte burned brighter but I would bet the MA has been happier and is more connected to swim long term. HI seems to be a perfect place for that personality.
This is the first time I’ve heard MA acknowledge that his career may be winding down. His confidence can’t be thru the moon right now with the way the last 3 seasons have gone but if he is serious about doing the work with Peter there’s no reason he cannot get back to 2021 form. If he is too laidback and just wants to go surfing , it’s over.
So much wasted potential. I doubt he makes another major international team.
Certainly nothing in his recent results or training to suggest that he will. It would be a surprise for sure. You look at Simone Manuel for example and I thought for sure she was washed, as well as Casas a few years back, but look what they have accomplished with Bob Bowman putting in big work.
Really Michael??? Oh dear, OH dear, what a waste of amazing divine given gifts
Of course
those who truly live the sport, live it, and want nothing else but to train and compete and live the lifestyle. i’m sure living in hawaii, training with his dad, and continuing to compete will be a valuable and rewarding way to continue his career. not everything is about winning or success, some just want to do what they love
He is 26 years old, there is a solid chance he just peaked a few years ago. He was a youth phenom, and 80 percent of those types never even make a national team at the senior level. He’s basically the Chas Morton or David Nolan of this generation, and he’s done significantly better than both of them at the senior level… I hope he enjoys his remaining time competing and training on his terms, because we all know it goes by too fast.
This is one of the best MA takes I have ever seen. I agree with this a lot.
Idk, he should have been able to hold that peak at least. Like most dudes can pop a 50 close to their best in their 30s, the issue with the other age group phenoms is they never converted to big time success.
He clearly did, but just lost it.
He just doesn’t care enough to put the work in anymore.
There’s no reason why a 58.1 100 BR or 1:55 IM guy should be struggling to break 1:00/2:00
Eh we see breaststrokers fall off a cliff often enough, though the IM dropoff is for sure due to not putting in the work.
I just dunno where the 50s went
It is possible the shift to ASU was too late in his career to adapt to an entirely new training stimulus and he just has to double down on USRPT now.