Voice of a Michael Andrew
By Greg Echlin
For world class swimmer Michael Andrew, there’s no place like home. But it’s in California now.
Though the Andrew family moved from Lawrence to Encinitas near the beach hugging the Pacific Ocean, there’s no reason for Kansans to lose touch with what he’s accomplishing in the swimming world. After missing out on the Olympics in 2016 at the age of 17, Andrew is on the path to make it to Tokyo in 2020.
Until then, the next international stage is the FINA World Championships (July 12-28) in Gwangju, South Korea.
“The dream would be to win all five of my races. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I think anything is possible,” said Andrew after winning three sprint races (50 meter breast, 50 meter back and a mixed medley relay) Friday night in the TYR Pro Swim Series stop at Indiana University in Bloomington.
At worlds, Andrew plans to race in the 50 free, 50 breast, 50 butterfly, 50 back and the 100 breast. A medley relay is also an added possibility if his time in the 100 breast is fast enough.
In his two days of competition at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center on the IU campus, Andrew earned about $9000 for his performances. He bypassed the final day to return home after a hectic travel schedule competing around the world.
Last year, in his first year removed from juniors, Andrew was named at the Golden Goggles banquet (USA Swimming’s season-ending gala) as the Breakout Performer of the Year. He won four titles at the U.S. nationals in Irvine, California.
“I remember in my speech saying that a year or two before that Golden Goggles, we were watching the livestream and my mom (Tina) said, ‘Michael, you’re going to be there.’” said Andrew. “I was like, ‘No way.’” I’ll be doing well, but not Golden Goggle level. Once I was there, it was like, ‘This is crazy.’”
The Andrew family is a team with Michael’s father, Peter, handling the coaching part. Since the family’s move to California last winter, former Gladiator Tina Andrew has taken a break from training in the modern pentathlon.
Though their property in Kansas—built with a since-removed two-lane indoor pool—is on the verge of being sold, the Andrew family left with good memories.
“Kansas was good for me to grow and mature as a professional athlete and learn what my purpose is and what I need to be,” said Andrew, the youngest swimmer ever to turn pro when the family agreed to an endorsement deal with a nutritional supplement company when he was 14.
Since the move to California, the family has taken up surfing for recreation while Michael’s career is going, shall we say, swimmingly.