Eight months after being highlighted within an edition of ESPN The Magazine, U.S. National Team member Michael Andrew is set to appear on one of the sports network’s television shows. Michael, along with his father and coach, Peter Andrew, are slated to be the focus of this weekend’s episode of ‘Outside the Lines’, scheduled for 9am Eastern on January 3rd on ESPN2.
‘OTL’ is the ESPN network’s investigative-type sports show, which shares inspirational or sensational stories across the world of sports. This Sunday’s edition of ‘OTL’ will not only focus on Michael as the youngest American swimmer ever to turn professional, as well as his close relationship to his coaching father, Peter, but his entire training foundation will also be put under the microscope.
That foundation being the unconventional training method called Ultra Short Race Pace Training (USRPT), the science-based training philosophy rooted in specificity and purposeful training. The show will take a look at how and why Michael trains in this manner, examine his unique training environment which includes his custom-built backyard pool, as well as discuss the Andrew family’s hopes to revolutionize the sport of swimming.
Says Peter Andrew of the opportunity to be featured on ESPN’s OTL, “It was great working with ESPN Outside the Line’s entire production team and presenter Will Cain. Excited about the exposure for Doc Rushall’s tireless work on USRPT and how this can potentially impact swimming in the future.”
Son Michael agrees and says he “Always appreciate an opportunity to share how we do things. Looking forward to seeing the show.”
You can view a preview of Sunday’s episode here.
Living in a bubble? MA has traveled to more countries than most people will in their lifetime. How amazing and what a great learning experience!! Think outside the box a little people!!
USRPT is important not only for swimming, but for any sport requiring technical skill mastery at a high intensity level. 25 years ago, Steve Alford put out a series of DVD’s with basketball drills completed at “game speed.” He’d make a series of shots as he ran around chairs, mirroring how he’d need to get open for a shot during a game. So about 60-90 seconds of going hard, then he’d shoot 2 free throws as his recovery (20 seconds). When you get a shot during a game, your heart rate is elevated and you’re sucking wind. So in practice, take as many of those game-situation shots as possible.
Think tennis, soccer, lacrosse – obviously track & field. Swimmers… Read more »
I dvr’d it. Really really positive piece. Actually the whole thing made me think of the movie karate kid. Kid training in his backyard swimming pool and the next stop Rio a true sports underdog fighting against the established training methods of those that think their way is the only way. Cool story but I have a few additional footnotes.
The mom scares me, her comment about wanting her son to be the fastest swimmer ever….I don’t think u should put that pressure on an age group swimmer. I think she was serious
The dad and son u can see great relationship I didn’t expect that
The bubble he lives in was acknowledged but dismissed. I think this could… Read more »
I think, based on their results, they’re doing just fine. Actually, better than just fine. Why would they want input from other “experts” who haven’t accomplished a fraction of what they’ve been able to. MA pretty much owns about 80% of ALL age group records. He’s probably the most, if not one of the most accomplished, age-group swimmer in history. He’s made improvements by leaps and bounds for several years now (that I know of, probably even more). He’ll only be 17 next year and still has a chance of making the Olympic team on the most competitive swim team on the planet. He’ll probably be 48 high (100m free), 59 mid (100m breast), 51 low (100m fly) and 53… Read more »
Well done ESPN! A little dismayed Mark Schubert wasn’t interviewed, but my heart will go on.
That is the first visual of Michael Andrew’s home training pool. A couple things I noticed were the rings and a dry land station. He doesn’t have any training out of the water? Michael is a monstrous talent but the only jab I have is how isolated his training environment is. To have such a solitary setting can be mentally grueling in a different way. Swimming is an individual sport, but a big essence of it is the camaraderie of the group. Not having training mates to push him or the friendships to cope with the intensity and the grind are difficult things… Read more »
The LeBron of swimming….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV1LzXf1TKQ
Great for our sport!
Yes indeed. USRPT and the LeBron of swimming at that. The last 2 OTL reports on swimming were not good looks at all. We’ve got to realize that these things play into how the mainstream views the sport. Who knows maybe one day it will be everyone sport as opposed to “ours”
The Lebron of swimming? Not really