There’s no doubt that we are all ecstatic that Michael Phelps has decided to give it another go for Rio before he hangs up his goggles and settles into the family life. However, there might not be anyone more excited than his own coach, business partner, and long time friend Bob Bowman.
It’s obvious that since coming back, and really since 2008, Michael has had his ups and downs, with varying levels of success along the way. But for the last year we have seen a new Phelps, a reborn Phelps if you will; one who is happy with his swimming, his relationships, and most of all himself. And no one has taken more notice of that than Bob, who has had to deal with Phelps on a daily basis through all of the ugly times before this rebirth.
Bob expressed his relief that Phelps was finally enjoying the sport again this weekend in Austin, where he told us that he had wanted Michael to go out on a better note than London, where he admits no one had much fun at all in the Phelps camp. Bob went on to tell a story that showed how much Phelps truly loved the sport of swimming at one point, and how he has hopefully found that love once again heading into his final olympics.
Trust me, if Bob is at the press conference it’s because the press asked for him to be there.
There are plenty of interviews where MP is alone, no BB beside him. I don’t really see an issue here.
Great Athlete…MP!!!…Great Coach..BM!!, that’s Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman; who has been by Michael Phelps side from the beginning and never lost faith in Michael Phelps, that’s a good coach, so of course he’ll be at all those press conference…he’s the one that helped develope that great athlete!!
Seems like I am the lone wolf here, and that’s fine. Nothing can persuade me otherwise that I think Bowman exploits Phelps’ fame. I just don’t understand why Bowman had to be at an athlete press conference at Austin. If it was a forum just for coaches, I would get it. If it was a convention where he and Phelps were marketing the new brand, I would get it. It is not a personal vendetta, nor do I have my “blinders” on, because I think he is a phenomenal coach. I am a former coach myself and I think any respectable coach helps their athletes through tough times inside and outside the pool. I just wish he would let Michael… Read more »
I think you make a big deal about something that’s not there. Could have Phelps been a tad bit annoyed? Maybe but I am sure he completely let it go after that. Also, Bowman is there because the two are now business partners. Do remember it was Phelps who came crawling back to Bob for coaching. He did not have to take what he made the greatest Olympian of all time back in his pool, but he did. I think for that, he is allowed to jump in on some press conferences there and there. He has also been on some with Alison S. But at the end of the day, the conference was mostly about the MP brand, a… Read more »
Wow, you just don’t get it or you have a personal issue with BB. Have you ever been directly or indirectly involved with a family member who has had a substance abuse problem and comes from that? If so, try and understand that is where BB is coming from. Good luck with your blinders.
Can you please provide a link?
Watch this video from :20-1:20 and watch Bowman ham it up when he is not the focus of the press conference
http://swimswam.com/phelps-bowman-press-conference-2016-arena-pro-swim-series-austin/
If it is a coaching press conference, I would expect and want to hear about the respective coach’s program. I love to hear about altitude training, dry land training, taper, etc. However, if it is an athlete press conference, I would only like to hear about the athlete’s preparation and expectations for that meet
Furthermore, I think we can all agree that NBAC is an elite program. Why does Bowman not shadow NBAC’s other phenomenal athletes in their interviews like he does to Phelps?
See Derek Meads response above, I think thats a good an answer as any. I think the relaxed and very candid atmosphere in the linked video is great and provides journalists and fans a great insight into the greatest coach /athlete partnership in olympic history.
LP MAN sticking to his guns and becoming one of the beloved posters on Swimswam 🙂
The only person whose opinion matters about Bowman being at Phelps press conferences is Phelps. If it is OK with him then your opinion is irrelevant. I have noticed that Phelps seems to need Bowman there when they are talking about Phelps new product line. He seems to be able to articulate the technical aspects a little bit better than Phelps. They ARE business partners and they are pushing a product. I would have also hated to see Phelps go it alone during his first press conference after coming out of rehab. That looked rough. Your comparison of Bowman to the coaches of other swimmers is a bit weak as those relationships are very different that the Bowman/Phelps relationship.
OK, I clicked on the link and watched the presser. So what? I don’t see where the problem is.
I get the part with Bowman being MP’s coach for most of his career. I do. I just don’t think it is necessary for him to be in the vast majority of the interviews playing cute for the press. Why isn’t Bruce Gemmell in all of Ledecky’s interviews? Why isn’t Dave Durden in all of Ryan Murphy’s interviews? Why isn’t Dave Marsh in all of Lochte’s interviews? Why isn’t Eddie Reese in all of Schooling or Conger’s interviews?
There was even an interview at the Austin GP where Bowman was going on and on and even Phelps gave him a look like “Ok, it’s time for you to be quiet”
This was just before Phelps revealed some of his new… Read more »
The difference is that Bowman has been with Phelps nearly 20 years (since he was 11), and they are business partners, very different than the ones you mentioned.
I don’t have a problem with it. Bowman has helped Phelps and is like a father figure. Helps with MP line because the brand needs a performance face and a coaching face
Bowman is at ASU to stay and I think Phelps wants to be a part of it. If you’re a swim coach and there’s media attention, that’s big. He’s trying to recruit and make his school relevant. The only person’s opinion on this that matters is Michael’s and I assume he’s cool with it.
I’d like to hear more about… Read more »
Why do you compare Apples ( NCAA swimmers: Murphy & Conger) with oranges (Proven Olympic champions: Ledecky, Phelps & Lochte)?
Bob Bowman is the coach of the greatest swimmer ever. He has every right to be right next to Michael Phelps in every press conference. He has earned it. And I’m glad he is because we would never hear stories like the one he just told.