Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Michael Andrew

Swimmer Michael Andrew is one of the world’s elite athletes. But unlike most, he isn’t defined by his sport or his success, rather he competes because it brings him joy. This unique perspective allows Michael to swim more freely, which could pay dividends as he makes his bid for the 2020 Olympics.

With Tokyo only a few years away, Michael is bringing fans along the ride with his popular YouTube Channel, which gives an inside look to the world of competitive swimming, exclusive Q&As with his peers, and life on the road.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Michael about his career, overcoming the fear of failure, and how he discovered his passion for content creation.

PC: From a young age, you received a lot of attention for breaking numerous National Age Group records and have been called the next Michael Phelps. How have you been able to manage all of those expectations?
Michael: For me, growing up and being compared to Phelps was an honor. Obviously, he’s the greatest of all time in the sport, and for people to see me heading in that direction is super cool. At the same time, I view sports very differently than most athletes in the way that I don’t feel like I’m defined by the success. It’s something that I do that brings me joy. Obviously, it’s nice to win, but it gives me a different perspective. I would love to be as great as Michael Phelps one day, but I also want to be the first Michael Andrew and pave my own legacy.

PC: When you made the decision at fourteen to turn pro, many people had voiced their opinion and concerns. How aware of that were you and how were you able to kind of silence the noise?
Michael: I was incredibly aware. Blogs, social media, everyone was voicing their opinions, and most of it was pretty negative. A lot of people didn’t quite understand our perspective in terms of going pro. Obviously, the American way is club, high school swimming, college, and if you’re still good enough after four years of beating, then you go pro, and then the Olympics, etc.

My parents are both from South Africa and we viewed things differently. My dream was to swim at the Olympics one day. I wanted to be a professional swimmer from a young age, so once I had the opportunity to go pro, we prayed about it as a family, discussed what it would mean, and weighed out the pros and cons. I knew that this was my calling, so I was like, “why not go for it?” I haven’t doubted it one bit. I’ve loved the journey.

PC: You’ve already accomplished a lot in your career. When you look back, is there a moment that sticks out to you? What’s been the biggest lesson that you’ve learned?
Michael: Each year brings something new. The first thing that comes to mind is 2016: it was a year of a lot of growth and a mental shift. Obviously with going pro, I dealt with a lot of pressure that I put on myself and I went through a stump where I couldn’t perform because I was so afraid to fail. I became defined by the result since I was now representing a company and all these brands. I wanted to be able to prove myself against these juniors, so I had and still have to constantly get better and better and break more records. I learned from friends and mentors not to be defined by this sport. Then in 2016, I had the opportunity to really put that into practice with the Olympic Trials and my first World Championship, where I came forth as a seventeen-year-old. No one expected me to make the team. For me, I swam amazingly. I had an incredible meet. It was a standout swim and I knew that this is where I’m meant to be.

Fast forward to later that year, I was invited to the Short Course World Championship in Windsor; I was replacing an athlete that couldn’t go at the time. I felt like this was an opportunity to race, but I wasn’t ready, physically or mentally. In that moment, I needed to get rid of the fear of failure and just race. I ended getting gold in the 100 IM. I called it a holy spirit swim. I felt like everything went right for me: whether I came first or last, I would have been happy because I knew it wouldn’t change how my family or friends viewed me. I was in a place where I felt free to just race. That’s when I had a shift in my mentality, and then came 2017 and 2018. I had a breakout year in 2018 and now it’s just about carrying that momentum.

PC: Speaking about the Olympic Trials, what did you learn from that experience that you are you going to bring to 2020?
Michael: Personally, I naturally love to perform in front of a crowd. Some athletes crumble under that pressure because of the fear of people watching. One thing that I learned at Trials was to feed off of that energy. I was very excited because that’s how I’ve been wired. Heading into the next Trials, that’s something I’ll focus on.

Also, I think that it’s really important to be in a place mentally where it doesn’t matter. It’s weird to say because we train our entire lives for that one moment, but to get there, I have to be able to give it up in order to fully be present and race in the moment.

PC: Outside of swimming, who is Michael Andrew?
Michael: Oh, man! Outside of swimming, Michael Andrew is someone who wants to be an influencer. I think I’m creative at times. I love videography. I love social media and being able to engage with fans. I love tech. I love to travel and experience things. We recently moved to Southern California, so whenever it’s nice out, I get the opportunity to go surfing. I enjoy hanging out with friends. I love being able to create something, tell stories. Who knows, maybe after swimming, I’ll get into cinematography or video production.

PC: Tell us about your YouTube channel. How did that come to fruition?
Michael: I started YouTubing and vlogging in 2016 at the World Championships. I decided to vlog the entire meet. It was the first time that I really dedicated myself to it, but I stopped because I thought my content was boring and that no one really wanted to watch it. Eventually, I got back into it when I realized it gave people insight into professional swimming. Most people don’t get to see what happens behind the scenes. The channel is still small, but for me, I think this year is going to be big. I’m looking forward to getting onto a set schedule where I’ll be releasing videos weekly and collaborating with friends in the area.

PC: How challenging is it for you to create content and then also manage your training schedule?
Michael: It’s very tough. There’s so much that goes into training. Then, you have to factor in how tired you are after training and having nothing left to put into the vlog. For me, it comes down to time management. It’s tough, but at the same time it’s worth it. I have to have something that motivates me to create, whether it’s the story or the swimmers that want to see it. I keep getting DMs saying, “Where’s the vlog? When are they coming out?” Obviously, training comes first, because that’s the priority.

PC: How far ahead do you plan your content?
Michael: Right now, not that far. Eventually, I want to get into the field where I sit down and write a shot list and script. I want to make the story better, the visuals more pleasing, etc. I feel like my audience who follows loves the raw footage, though.

PC: How did you discover your passion for telling stories and creating content?
Michael: That’s an interesting question! I think it all started with my love for tech. I’ve always enjoyed the art behind photography and videography. Everyone can be uniquely themselves when creating something—I love that idea. You meet a lot of really incredible people through photography and travel. A lot of swimmers aren’t using social media to promote their brand, so that’s why I jumped into it.

PC: As you look ahead in your career, what are some aspirations you hope to still accomplish?
Michael: Wow, great question. Swim-wise, the biggest thing is Olympic gold. I have some pretty ambitious goals. I tend to keep the details private, but multiple world records. I want to be on top of the swimming world, but whether I get there or not, I’m blessed and very happy with where we are now.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Favorite TV show?
Michael: So, we haven’t had cable TV for the last eight years, but we watch Netflix quite a bit and I think my favorite series, and my sister’s as well, is Psych.

PC: Favorite movie?
Michael: Braveheart

PC: Favorite book?
Michael: The Bible

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Michael: Let’s go Mamma Mia, yeah. We actually go to meet the Broadway crew of Mamma Mia while we were in Thailand.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn on your playlist?
Michael: I think people would be surprised that I listen to some of Post Malone’s music. He’s got some pretty catchy tunes, also some pretty vulgar ones—I have to stay away from those.

PC: Pre-swim ritual?
Michael: There’s nothing on pen and paper, but my ritual is to stay active. I‘m always wearing warm clothes and shoes. I listen to a little bit of music, but nothing too upbeat. I try to keep my heart rate low. I do a lot of deep breathing through the nose and out through the mouth. Before the race, I will go through the details of the race, what I want to get right, the small things. Then, I do a little mental rehearsal. Before I get on the blocks, I’ll pray, and ask God to meet me in the water to help me throughout the swim.

PC: Hidden talent?
Michael: I have a natural athleticism. The first time that I surfed, I got on my feet.

To keep up with Michael, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to his YouTube Channel.

Photo Credit: Melissa Lundie