In his latest vlog, Michael Andrew takes us behind the scenes of his last few days of preparation at the 2022 Short Course World Championships, held last month in Melbourne, Australia.
Andrew opens his video with a mini facility tour showing Team USA’s team area, the media zone, the athlete staging area, and the competition and training pools. He goes on to discuss what his pre-meet prep includes in the the last few days before competition. He takes viewers to a Team USA practice, and then talks about recovery and what he does to prepare himself for the later finals sessions and his busy schedule.
Andrew’s highest individual finish at SC Worlds was 5th in the 50m breaststroke and 100 IM, where he swam a 25.92 and 51.47, respectively. For relays, he was a member of the American record-setting men’s 4x50m medley relay which took silver and the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay which took 4th.
He also swam the 100m fly (51.93) and 100m breast (58.22), where he finished 30th and 25th. He opted to just swim the 50 free in prelims where he clocked a 21.02, but scratched out of it after that. In the 50 fly, he advanced to semis to take 14th with a 22.47.
It amazes me how MA still has to “prove” himself to to many people. The records, the Olympic medals, the outgoing personality — it all seems to count for less, as I read across various media, to far too many folk simply because he trains so differently and became a professional so early. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. I’m a fan!
I don’t care how he trains if it works, but he doesn’t seem to be able to swim more than a 50 now. Something is off.
I think MA has gotten too comfortable in his training environment and routines. He approaches swimming more like a day job now than a passion. He trains, fulfills his sponsor commitments, and races but something is missing. Maybe it is burnout and he’d rather be surfing or hitting a ball over a net.
I wish him well but I can’t help but feel like he’s not reaching his potential. I understand that just because you break dozens of NAG records doesn’t mean you’ll have the same success as an adult, but in Andrew’s case he has demonstrated that he’s capable.
50 free: 21.4
100 fly: 50.8
200 IM: 1:55.2
100 breast: 58.1
The problem is, he doesn’t seem to be able to be consistent throughout a meet, or if he is (like 2021 OTs), he can’t hit the double taper.
Really wondr why he scratched that 50
There was a conflict with the 100IM final I believe.