Legendary US Swimming Coach, That Was the Backbone of Michael Phelps’ Career, Humbled After Recent NCAA Meet

In the annals of the swimming world, a few coaches have become synonymous with greatness, and their impact is felt for the generations. One such legendary figure has become synonymous with the ultimate swimming phenom, Michael Phelps. It was the coach who identified the uncut diamond to polish and sharpen it, eventually giving birth to the Kohinoor of the swimming realm. Time flies, but greatness remains. Just that it finds its way in some other form.

So is the coaching legacy of Bob Bowman. The hands that cultivated gold in the pools are not there to relax. So Bowman is now lending them to raising the talents of the coming days. Apart from training swimmers for Paris, he recently also coached swimmers for the Sun Devil Swim and Dive 2023 – 2024. As the event recently came to an end, the veteran coach took to X to share his thoughts about it.

Coach hails young energy as pool records go down at Bay Area

In the recently concluded NCAA meet, the No.1 Arizona Sun Devils men’s team tied with the No. 3 California Bears with 150 points. An array of records was set in the pool. At the end of the show, the ASU swimming coach wrote on X, “Got to coach in the best dual meet in men’s collegiate swimming history today. Amazing performances by @calmenswim and @ASUSwimDive!! Great crowd, torrential rain, every swim meant something, awesome energy!!” The results in the pool succinctly reflected that energy.

In the day’s opening event at Spieker, four relay teams finished the race under previously set pool records. Continuing the pool record, the No. 1 Arizona State and No.3 California men’s swimming teams combined to form 13 records. The major attractions at the event were Liam Bell, Jack Alexy, and Dare Rose, shattering the second-fastest time of 1:22:87 in the history of the program while setting a record. 

On the other hand, the Sun Devils, on their weekend trip to the Bay Area, slew top 10 opponents. At Berkeley, Zalan Sarkany broke his own record in the third consecutive meet as he recorded 8:37.82. Besides this, Leon Marchand, whom Bowman has touted as the carrier of Phelps’ swimming legacy, also displayed perfection at the 3 as he clinched the 100 breast, 200 breast, and 200 IM. Amid all the fresh success, one can not forget Bob Bowman’s best gift to the world of swimming.

The swimming talent that Bowman turned into a legend

The journey of esteemed coach Bob Bowman is interwoven with the remarkable achievements of Michael Phelps. Back in the days when Bowman first saw Phelps, he was only seven years old. Being a keen observer, Bowman analyzed Phelps’s potential in swimming by screening him at North Baltimore Aquatic Club. 

Read More: Amidst Disappointing Start to Olympics, Michael Phelps Saved the Year With This Groundbreaking Achievement

Then, in 1997, Bowman tried to convince Phelps’s parents about his caliber and his desire to become a great swimmer. Fortunately, the parents agreed and trusted Bowman. Therefore, Phelps began training at the young age of 11. Eventually, Baltimore’s swimming bullet became the youngest American Olympian at a mere 15 years in 2000. With 28 medals across five Olympics, he stands tall as the most decorated Olympian of all time. 

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