Imagine being trained by one of the greatest swimming coaches of all time! That’s the reality for Carson Foster, who’s now working with Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps‘ former coach. It’s a dream come true for many athletes! Bowman also coached Leon Marchand, who recently took home five medals in the Paris Olympics. Leon and Carson were both teammates in the 2024 Games in the men’s 400 IM.

Foster was a standout swimmer for the University of Texas Longhorns, where he learned from the legendary Eddie Reese. But now that Reese has retired after the Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Foster has made the exciting switch to train with Bowman. He won a bronze medal in the men’s 400 IM and a silver in the 4×200 freestyle relay at the Paris Olympics. Such talent surely hints at a future awaiting him!

Foster recently appeared on the Social Kick Podcast to share insights about his new training group. During his chat with hosts Luke Paddington, Bryan Lundquist, and John Mullen, he talked about training alongside Leon Marchand.

When the hosts asked Foster how he believed training with such a competitive group would affect his performance and mindset in upcoming competitions, he reflected on the significance of this environment in shaping his approach to racing.

Mondo Foster shared his thoughts on the competitive environment of his new training group, noting that “there are people literally everywhere,” which he believes will be beneficial for his growth. He admitted that adapting to this transition has been a challenge, as his competitive nature drives him to want to win every single set, whether it’s during warm-ups or actual races. “I want to be the first one,” he said, acknowledging that this mindset has been a source of strength.

However, he also revealed that his success in practice over the past four years has created a “fear of losing” when it comes time to compete. This anxiety has sometimes shifted his focus from swimming to win to swimming to avoid losing.

As he looks ahead, Mondo recognizes that training with such a talented group means he’ll need to embrace losing on some days. “Whether I like it or not, it’s going to be next to impossible for me to win every single day with the group we’ve got, especially when Leon (Marchand) gets here,” he explained. He views this challenge as a chance to improve himself and highlights that he can now concentrate on delivering his top-notch performance.

“When I’m feeling good, I’m going to be one of the hardest guys in the pool to beat,” he said. Foster expressed his enthusiasm for the skill sets within his training cohort, which motivated him to enhance his own abilities. But at the same time, Leon Marchand also shares a good bond with Foster.

Leon Marchand and Foster leave no stone unturned

In the 2023 World Championships in Japan, Leon Marchand shaved more than a second off of Phelps’s 2008 mark in the 400 IM. Marchand’s new record stands at 4 minutes, 2.50 seconds. In doing so, he was more than four seconds ahead of silver medalist Carson Foster.

Like Foster, Marchand also encompasses elite amateurs. “I don’t think there is any question—Bob is the best coach in the world for the four hundred IM,” said Foster, eighth on the event’s all-time list, which has Bowman products at numbers one, two, and four. “To be able to join forces with him and get to train with the guys he’s coaching now, that is going to be special.”

However, in a similar podcast, the hosts asked Carson about Leon Marchand’s transition back into training. Foster’s response was both thoughtful and candid. He admitted, “No, I haven’t. I haven’t. We have—I mean, there hasn’t been much talk about it.”

Although he knows Leon from their competitive encounters and they occasionally chat at meets, he acknowledged, “But me and Leon aren’t, like, you know, texting on the regular and like checking in with each other,” he explained, but he expressed a genuine eagerness to get to know Leon better. Viewing Leon as a benchmark in the sport, Carson is eager to see how they both progress together.