Both Michaels are graced with incredible physiques. Michael Phelps stands at 6-4 with size 14 shoes and a wingspan of 6-7. Michael Andrew stands two inches taller at 6-6, filling the same shoes and wingspan. One career just ended, the other is just getting started.<\/p>\n
Both Michaels are perceived differently. Phelps changed the sport publicly. Andrew is changing the sport internally.<\/p>\n
From a public perspective, Phelps changed competitive swimming by maximizing its exposure while winning 28 Olympic medals. Internally, Andrew\u2014at age 19\u2014is changing the sport by setting junior world records and national age group records by using non- traditional training methods. Andrew\u2019s form of training was validated as he won four national titles last month at USA Swimming\u2019s Summer Nationals and gold in the 50 free at the Pan Pacific Championships.<\/p>\n
If change is measured by how the sport is viewed, then Phelps wins. But if change is measured by how the sport\u2019s culture is viewed, then my guess is that Andrew is the catalyst.<\/p>\n
Herein lies the conundrum: which change will be the most beneficial to the sport\u2014cultural change or public awareness?<\/p>\n
Phelps did the impossible by training seven days a week, two practices (on most days), for years with an emphasis on the 400 IM and middle-distance events. It is a distance-on-down approach.<\/p>\n
Andrew is showing what IS possible by training differently with an emphasis on sprints and shorter races. It is a sprint-on-up approach.<\/p>\n
So, if we are to measure change from a visibility point of view, Phelps wins again. But if we are to measure change from a cultural point of view, my bet once again is on Andrew.<\/p>\n
The hard fact is that the Phelps era did not translate into institutional growth for thesport of swimming. Statistics showed that the number of young boys (10-and-under) that joined USA Swimming dropped between 2012 and 2016. Most young boys complained that the sport required too much time.<\/p>\n
So, the Phelps influence on the public\u2019s perception of swimming\u2014although great for viewership\u2014did not ultimately translate into growth for the sport of swimming.<\/p>\n
This lack of growth for young males is one reason USA Swimming is instituting a Flex Membership campaign to attract new swimmers into the sport. The intent is to limit practices and competitions for these young entry-level swimmers. The goal is to encourage all kids to try all sports, and when they are ready to commit, those athletes who choose swimming can upgrade to a full membership with more practices and competition opportunities. If the kids are still swimming at age 13, USA Swimming has shown a 93 percent retention rate from that point on.<\/p>\n
With Michael Andrew\u2019s emphasis on high-intensity, short-yardage workouts, his form of training certainly feeds well into USA Swimming\u2019s marketing game plan.<\/p>\n
Phelps certainly paved the way for Andrew. But in the end, who really has changedor will be changing the sport? Perhaps it will be a combination. Either way, the Michaels win.<\/p>\n
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