The iconic duo of Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman created a special bond in swimming. Phelps is a champion swimmer who won 28 Olympic medals while creating numerous world records. Bowman coached him ever since he was young. Helping him to grow and realize his potential, he prepared Phelps both mentally and physically. However, they had a shaky start together.

After he turned 18, Phelps had problems with his coach and had intense conversations with Bowman. In a past interview, he spoke about the troubles he had and kept boundaries if Phelps was to continue with Bowman. Thus, it was not an easy start.

Michael Phelps’ tussles with Bowman

The legendary swimmer mentioned how they grew into their relationship after many arguments. Despite all the arguments, they complimented each other and settled aside their differences as Bowman created a machine. Being a father figure to Phelps at a very young age, he molded the champion swimmer into the greatest of all time. But, Phelps talked about the problems they had in the beginning.

“When I was 18 years old, we had some struggles because he still saw me as the 11-year-old kid, that he once did. So I was like ‘Look, this isn’t gonna fly either. We’re gonna have to change this or I’m never swimming, for you again,” said Phelps.

From all those differences, the duo talked it out and started creating ripples in the swimming pool. Phelps also added how they had ‘head-butting moments,’ at times.

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“We had a lot of those kinds of head-butting moments, I guess you called them and we just grew together. We wanted to do absolutely everything we could to be the best that we possibly could.”

Aqua gladiator dominates

From keeping him grounded to training him to face all the possible adversities, Bowman helped him to become a swimming great. After all their problems, they learned to understand each other better, which contributed to several incredible records. He won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics; arguably the greatest Olympic achievement by an athlete.

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It is a heart-warming moment for both Phelps and Bowman to work out the way they did. Now a grandfather to his kids, Phelps and Bowman’s relationship is one for the ages. It has shades of Tim Duncan-Gregg Popovich at their peak, or maybe better than that.