Growing up in Malta, Andrew Chetcuti was afraid of the water and never imagined he would compete in the Olympics.
Yet, the Georgia Tech alum overcame his fear, becoming a three-time Olympian representing Malta in the 100-metre freestyle in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Games. Chetcuti’s remarkable journey is a story that bridges athletic excellence, perseverance, and ambition to never give up on your dreams.
“Even though I’m from Malta and it’s an island country, I was scared of the water growing up,” he said. “So, I started getting comfortable in the water by jumping in the sea and swimming and progressing in the pool more.”
Chetcuti’s first experience with the Olympics was watching the 2004 Athens Games. He was captivated by swimmers like Michael Phelps and envisioned himself competing on that grand stage one day. The Games ignited a fire in him, and he channeled all his efforts into improving his speed and strength in the pool.
The torch was lit and Chetcuti dove into competitive swimming, setting age group national records for Malta at 11. His early training established his athletic ability, and as his Olympic dreams took shape, his regimen intensified. He focused on his nutrition, balanced his studies with training, and set his sights on a swimming scholarship. He was building the groundwork for success both in and out of the pool.
His dedication and consistency caught the attention of the Georgia Tech swim team. Though he was a strong swimmer, the coaches offered him constructive feedback, highlighting areas for growth. Chetcuti took their advice, improved his skills, and secured a swimming scholarship in 2011, joining the varsity swimming and diving team. He officially became a Yellow Jacket.
As Chetcuti balanced an intense training and gym schedule with his biology studies, he would end his first year with an exciting triumph. While at the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), his coach delivered the big news: Chetcuti would swim for Malta in the 2012 London Olympics. He couldn’t believe he had achieved his childhood dream.
The first people he called — his parents.
“I called my parents, but my mom already knew because one of the members on the board let it slip the day before that I was selected,” Chetcuti laughed. “Then I called my family, friends, and coaches at Georgia Tech to let them know we did it. It was an awesome day.”
He still remembers the London Aquatics Centre buzzing with the energy from the crowd, a sound and feeling he loved. He recalls his heart racing as he approached the starting block, telling himself to breathe and relax. As he prepared to dive, the starter's buzzer malfunctioned, and everyone stepped off to reset. That’s a memory he’ll never forget. Even though he was rattled in the beginning, Chetcuti set a national record in London.
He continued his Olympic journey in the 2016 Rio Games and 2020 Tokyo Games and had the cherished flag-bearer role in both games.
Post-retirement, Chetcuti’s drive remains intact as he pursues an MBA at the Scheller College of Business, pivoting from physical therapy to consulting. He’s happy to return to Georgia Tech after graduating in 2016 with his Bachelor of Science in Biology. He’s also checked another goal off his list: Interning this summer at his dream firm, Bain & Company, as a summer associate. Chetcuti's transition showcases his adaptability and ambition beyond the pool.
With the Paris Olympics in full swing, we talked with Chetcuti to learn more about his Olympics career, Full-time MBA journey, internship recruiting, and why he can’t wait to be a Scheller alum.
What are your favorite memories or fun stories from the Olympics?
One that will always stick with me is sitting at the same dining room table as Kobe Bryant. It was surreal. I am this 19-year-old kid from Malta, and this is my life. The imposter syndrome felt real in London. I also remember one time four rugby players tried jumping on the cardboard beds to see if they would break, and they didn’t. Those beds are sturdy.
Even though everyone is a high-level athlete, after the races are done, people are partying more than you think. The Olympic Village in Rio felt like one big dorm room with everyone blasting their national music in the streets and cheering. It was really cool.
You experienced a lot of new changes in a short amount of time, moving to a new country, starting college, and then competing in the Olympics. How did you handle all the transitions?
I always need to have a goal with something I am doing, which is why I enjoy traveling and being exposed to different cultures. I embraced the opportunity to travel to the Olympics. It was amazing being around people from all over the world condensed into a square mile on the Olympic campus. Every day, I would sit with people from a different country and talk about how they operate in their countries and what we do in Malta and the U.S. The most valuable thing I took away from the Olympics was the exposure to different countries and cultures.
Would you say all those experiences from the Olympics helped you in the MBA program and with internship recruiting?
Definitely. From the recruiting perspective, I leveraged my multicultural background and growing up in Dubai in addition to Malta. As an intern at Bain, you will interact with people from all over the world. I think knowing the different cultural norms like when to shake hands, different email etiquette, etc. has helped me in client-facing roles like being a physical therapist and now pivoting into consulting.
Internship recruiting for consulting can be challenging. Were there moments of rejection? If so, how did you overcome them?
Yes. Recruiting was tough this year. I am very happy and fortunate to get an offer this summer, especially without a consulting background. Before I heard back from Bain, I received about four “nos” from other firms. So, I took a pause and reframed my recruitment strategy.
I talked to people in the industry and friends at firms, made introductions, and became more intentional about my recruitment process. When I went back to apply for internships, I was more direct in my research. I also had advocates with whom I had formed genuine connections.
Do you have any rituals or routines from the Olympics you adapted to your MBA and internship recruiting journey?
Yep! My interview day with Bain. On the mornings of race days, I had a routine I was adamant about. I would wake up, walk for 30 minutes to get the blood flowing in my legs, and maybe grab coffee. When it came time for my interview day with Bain, I treated the day like a race day. I woke up early, went for a walk, grabbed coffee, listened to music, and called my parents. It was the same routine. It’s funny because I had the same nervous sensation I had on big race days. It helped because I felt calmer during the interview, and I ended up getting the offer.
Have you found other similarities between swimming and being in the MBA program or have skills you’ve transferred over?
Time management for sure. I was structured in how I dedicated my time between homework, work, and training. While preparing for Tokyo, I balanced an intense training schedule with my full-time job. That discipline and management of workload carried over, especially now interning this summer.
As a student with a non-business background, what advice would you give to prospective students who also have a non-traditional background and want to pursue consulting?
I think you need to find a firm that appreciates those transferrable skills. Bain is excellent at that. Its recruiting process is more than looking at a resume and seeing how you perform professionally. They take the time to get to know you. I didn’t have a corporate background, so I showed my soft skills. I showed what I can do besides what’s on paper.
Physical therapy taught me how to handle difficult clients, negotiate conflict, manage time, and multitask between several patients and case streams at once. I think all those skills directly translate to consulting. I also think having a non-traditional background shows you’re a quick and adaptable learner.
You’re wrapping up your internship and starting the second year of the MBA program. What are you looking forward to?
I'll be the president of the Consulting Club next year, so I am excited to lead and be involved in the Scheller community more. I want to bring more employers on campus and set up informal happy hours and sessions to create opportunities to engage with Atlanta and national companies.
I will also be on the Athletics Committee next semester. I will oversee hosting and organizing tailgates for the school, which are always a lot of fun. I remember my first year I was so focused on my studies and recruiting that I didn’t get involved as much. Hopefully, I will be finished with recruiting, so I can make it my priority this year to spend time and energy being involved in the community.
I am also excited to become an alumnus and return to campus to interact with students as a working professional and advocate for them. I know the type of student Scheller produces, and I want to advocate for them to get to the next level in their careers.
