Michael Andrew (swimmer)


Michael Andrew is an American competitive swimmer and the 2016 world champion in the 100 meter individual medley.
Andrew used to be coached by his father in a two-lane pool in their backyard, though has since moved to California. He is still being coach by his father and trains in a non-traditional way, using a method called Ultra Short Race Pace Training.

Early life

Andrew started swimming at age 7. His parents, Peter and Tina, are South African natives who moved to America in 1997. The family moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 2011. Andrew has a younger sister who also used to swim. His mother Tina appeared in the British and South African versions of Gladiators, as Laser and Sheena respectively.

Career

2015 FINA World Junior Swimming

He won the gold medal in the 50 meter backstroke at the 2015 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Singapore, breaking the Championships record in both the heats and the final. He also won the silver medal in the 50 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly events and reached the finals in four other individual events. FINA named him male swimmer of the meet.
Andrew has broken more than 100 National Age Group records, more than any other American swimmer. He turned professional in 2013 at the age of 14, becoming the youngest American swimmer to do so.

2016 FINA Short Course World Championships

At the 2016 FINA Short Course World Championships in Windsor, Canada, Andrew won the gold medal in the 100 meter individual medley in a time of 51.84. He also finished 9th in the 50 meter breaststroke, missing the final by a tenth of a second. He also contributed to the heats in both the 4x50 metre freestyle relay and the 4x50 medley relay, winning silver medals in both. He swam splits of 21.51 and 26.62, respectively.

2018 Phillips 66 National Championships

Andrew qualified for his first senior long course team at the 2018 Phillips 66 National Championships, winning the 100 meter breaststroke in 59.38 as well as multiple other events, most notably beating Caeleb Dressel in the 50 freestyle.

2018 Pan Pacific Championships

At the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, Andrew won gold in the 50m Freestyle.

Inaugural ISL Season

In the Autumn of 2019 he was member of the inaugural International Swimming League swimming for the New York Breakers, who competed in the Americas Division.At the American Final, in College Park, Maryland, Andrew won the 50 backstroke, tying with LA Current Swimmer Matt Grevers

Physique

Ultra Short Race Pace Training

Michael Andrew has adopted a unique training style called Ultra Short Race Pace Training.
USRPT, short for Ultra-Short Race-Pace Training, is an evidence-based training program/stroke curriculum developed by Dr. Bent S. Rushall for the sport of swimming.

Philanthropy

Andrew has been heavily involved with charitable causes since the inception of his professional career. Most notably, Andrew has made four trips to Rosarito, Mexico with Hope Sports to build homes for low-income families.

Personal bests

Long course (50 m pool)

Short course (25 m pool)

Legend: h = heats
r = relay lead-off