Unvaccinated U.S. swimmer Michael Andrew refuses to wear mask while talking to reporters

Team USA swimmer Michael Andrew made headlines when he said he'd go to the Tokyo Olympics without getting vaccinated. And he gained attention again this week, not for winning, but for refusing to wear a mask while talking to reporters.

After coming in fifth place in the men's 200-meter individual medley on Friday, Andrew exited the pool to talk to reporters in the "mixed zone," an area where journalists interview athletes. USA Today Sports asked Andrew why he was not wearing a mask like most of the other Team USA athletes. "For me it's pretty hard to breathe in after kind of sacrificing my body in the water, so I feel like my health is a little more tied to being able to breathe than protecting what's coming out of my mouth," he said.