Michael Andrew Misses World Championships Roster By .01 Seconds

by Riley Overend 299

July 01st, 2023 National, News

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Michael Andrew triumphed in the 50-meter butterfly (23.11) on Wednesday, but the 23-year-old sprint specialist ended up being the odd man left off this year’s World Championships roster by an agonizingly slim margin due to USA Swimming selection procedures that prioritize relay-only swimmers over non-Olympic event winners.

Andrew, who has collected six World Championships medals during two appearances in 2019 and 2022, needed a top-two finish in Saturday night’s 50 freestyle final to clinch his spot in Fukuoka later this month. He took silver in the 50 free at last year’s Worlds in Budapest.

Both Ryan Held (21.50) and Jack Alexy (21.63) clocked personal-bests in the 50 free final as Andrew missed out on a Worlds berth by just .01 seconds with a 21.64. Because the U.S. men had exactly 27 Worlds qualifiers, one over the 26-swimmer limit, 17-year-old Stanford commit Henry McFadden got the nod over Andrew by way of his sixth-place finish in the 200 free.

“Won’t be seeing you in Fukuoka unfortunately,” Andrew wrote on Instagram. “Stoked to have qualified for my third World Championships, but due to the selection procedures will be staying home as 50s of stroke are 5th priority behind relay only swimmers. God is Good, and this is part of His plan.”

At the 2019 World Championships, Andrew became the first male swimmer to final in all four 50 strokes at a single meet. At last year’s Worlds, he earned bronze in the 50 breast (26.72) and 50 fly (22.79) in addition to his 50 free silver (21.41).

Check out the full U.S. men’s roster for Worlds below:

  • Jack Alexy
  • Hunter Armstrong
  • Shaine Casas
  • Charlie Clark
  • Ross Dant
  • Matt Fallon
  • Nic Fink
  • Bobby Finke
  • Carson Foster
  • Brennan Gravley
  • Dylan Gravley
  • Chris Guiliano
  • Thomas Heilman
  • Ryan Held
  • Luke Hobson
  • David Johnston
  • Chase Kalisz
  • Drew Kibler
  • Matt King
  • Destin Lasco
  • Josh Matheny
  • Henry McFadden
  • Jake Mitchell
  • Ryan Murphy
  • Baylor Nelson
  • Justin Ress
  • Dare Rose
  • Kieran Smith
  • Joey Tepper

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – MAX OF 26

  • Priority #1. The first priority will include both (i) the four best finishing Available Swimmers based on finish order from the Finals the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyles, and (ii) the best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the Individual Olympic Events other than the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyle.
  • Priority #2. The second priority will include the second best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the Individual Olympic Events other than the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyle.
  • Priority #3. The third priority will include the fifth best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyles.
  • Priority #4. The fourth priority will include the sixth best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals of the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter Freestyles.
  • Priority #5. The fifth priority will include the best finishing Available Swimmer based on finish order from the Finals at the Qualifying Competition in the Individual Non-Olympic Events. No more than one Available Swimmer may be selected in each Individual Non-Olympic Event. If the Available Swimmer with the fastest time at the Finals in an Individual Non-Olympic Event declines the invitation to be Selected to the Team when that invitation is offered by USA Swimming and/or declines to swim in the Event for which he/she qualifies in the Championships, USA Swimming will not Select an Available Swimmer in that Individual Non-Olympic Event via Priority #5.

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Swammer
1 year ago

With these comments – I get the frustration. Some see such potential- especially in the 100 BR etc – and want to further capture that talent and develop it. But I don’t think there should be a whole comment section dedicated to people being pleased at someone else failing. It just seems super petty and hateful to me – not what the world or the sport needs. Solves nothing. At the end of the day – It’s his life. He can train how he wants to train. He can turn pro at 14. Not go to college. Surf. Not surf. Maybe it won’t work for him in the way you want it to work. But again, it’s his life. There… Read more »

Observing
Reply to  Swammer
1 year ago

The issue and the hate is because of the way he’s handling the situation. From his instagram:
“Won’t be seeing you in Fukuoka unfortunately. Stoked to have qualified* for my 3rd World Championships, but due to the selection procedures will be staying home as 50s of stroke are 5th priority behind relay only swimmers”

I don’t agree with the way USA swimming changed the selection procedure (Justin the 50back champ, would also be left off the roster if he hadn’t come 6th in the 100 free). But the fact that he didn’t understand the change is his own issue, no need to seek pity and reassurance, just get back to work and figure out how you’ll make it to… Read more »

swimfast
Reply to  Swammer
1 year ago

I know a couple extremely fast, National team swimmers personally that have said MA is awful in the bragging department. They say he’s a tremendously nice guy that’s easy to get along with otherwise…but when it comes to thinking he deserves more than others with no real just reason is where I believe individuals see him as a terrible influence.

Terms like “big baby” and “selfish” and “sore loser” are attached to his name….I’m sure he would not be pleased to hear that- maybe it’s time someone inform him that it’s worth a look in the mirror to revise his approach to certain topics/affairs. It seems like he’s someone who would want others to think highly of him, so of… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by swimfast
Erik
1 year ago

Not been a big fan of Michael when he and his father decided to have him go pro at 14. Look at Thomas Heilman! 16 and how many NAG records he has broken and on the WORLD team and MA IS NOT! Thomas will more than likely go through traditional amatuer and scholastic swimming and continue to break records! Perhaps they thought MA could be the next Michael Phelps! Well swim fans, guess what? DID NOT HAPPEN! Yes, he is the currrent 100M BR AM Record Holder. Nick Fink will wipe that out in JAPAN next month at 30 years old. This is my point! I don’t wish MA bad, but he needs to change things up drastically or his… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Erik
Zach
Reply to  Erik
1 year ago

I feel sad for MA on a certain level. He’s a grown adult but I feel like because he never had a normal childhood he missed out on so many learning opportunities that come from being in social environments (e.g. school, practice with teammates). Every time I hear him speak or read something he’s written I feel like I’m listening to one of my middle school students repeat whatever they hear said at home.

IMHO I think his parents made the wrong choice allowing him to go pro at 14. I don’t know how the decision was made, but if it was their decision that they pushed on him then I’m even more disappointed. I’m not saying everyone needs… Read more »

(G)olden Bear
Reply to  Zach
1 year ago

“… repeat whatever they hear said at home.”

From ESPN in 2015:

“… Peter is 
a true believer. His son is a gift who must be shared with the world — a mission he and his wife can’t afford to mess up.”

“ He is home-schooled through an online program from Liberty University, an Evangelical college based in Virginia. His mother monitors his Twitter account. He can’t date. He can’t go fishing with friends.”

“Michael doesn’t need to be inundated with sex and drugs and ideas from liberal professors,” Tina says.

…Tina was sure it was a conspiracy. Dinner-table conversations often turn into a list of complaints against those who have ignored them, who have dismissed them, who have failed… Read more »

Billy
1 year ago

Mike: You need to train harder under a top coach if you want to make the 2024 Paris Olympic team. It’s clear to see that your present training regimen is not working. JMHO.

Oswego Alum
1 year ago

Other men on the roster will take the 50 spots

Guilherme
1 year ago

The antivax is out. Great news

Jules
Reply to  Guilherme
1 year ago

This comment did not age well.

practice and pain
1 year ago

Needless to say, I don’t feel bad for the guy. The selection criteria were available and he has to accept that his chances of making the team are much lower when choosing to specialize in the 50s. He could have been a mainstay on the US international team in the 200 IM if he would just do the work to fix his final 50. Instead of taking Phelps’ advice, he ran away from the event and took what he thought would be the easy way onto the team.

Observing
Reply to  practice and pain
1 year ago

He is also one of the fastest 100 breaststrokers and 100 flyers in the country. He didn’t have to prioritize the 200 IM, he just needed to have not been awful in one of those 100’s. If it were anyone else I may have felt bad for them, but MA is more than capable of making this team and he just didn’t show up like he needed to, it happens.

Swimposter
Reply to  practice and pain
1 year ago

It’s so weird that the consensus on MA is that he’s a coward for not training for an event he clearly doesn’t enjoy training for or competing in while at the same time telling dressel good job for looking out for his mental health. If MA has an easier time preparing for the grind of the 200im next year by working on the 50s right now, why not just let him be happy doing what he likes. Swimming fans are weird.

Ceccon - Kamminga - Milak - Popovici
Reply to  Swimposter
1 year ago

He can do whatever he wants.

Just don’t be a sourpuss and whinge on social media when you are not qualified.

Jeepers
1 year ago

If he doesn’t make serious changes starting immediately he will be left off the team for Paris as well. The youngsters are hungry and putting in the work to bring their A games.

Spink
1 year ago

I feel bad for the guy, but his finishes in prelims and finals were really really bad, short stroking the finish here meant missing the worlds by 0.01, but now he knows what to do heading into trials

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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