Bob Bowman Shares Thoughts on Leon Marchand, Gretchen Walsh, Summer McIntosh, & More

2024 SC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Texas Director of Swimming Bob Bowman surfaced in Hungary at the 2024 Short Course World Championships, with many of the swimmers he trains in Austin competing in Budapest this past week. Bowman spoke with the media about a number of topics and athletes, including Leon Marchand opting out of Worlds, Gretchen Walsh‘s incredible meet, coaching in the American collegiate system, and more.

In This Story

19
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

19 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
jpm49
30 days ago

We love the way Summer McIntosh’s career is managed, leaving her at the end of each competition with a little feeling of relative non-total perfection : in Budapest with, for example, this “horrible” second place in the 200m backstroke, while in the 800m and 200 m free if… so his motivation will not drop for his next meetings and without mental fatigue with the fear of succeeding less, above all.
Almost “appalling” was the absolute success of Léon Marchand in Paris with especially his two individual titles in the same evening, a feat that even Phelps had never dared to achieve. How hard it will be now for him to do better! It is more the mental than the… Read more »

Last edited 30 days ago by jpm49
Tani
30 days ago

Empathic

Can’t kick can’t pull
30 days ago

Anyone but bobby b, thanks

Morning in America Again
30 days ago

Good stuff. Especially interesting were Bowman’s insights about how Léon will have to deal with and expect from the media and endorsements. Remember: Bob’s seen this show before — and at a high-intensity level for a dozen-plus years!

Question: does Bob get a slice of Marchand’s endorsement money (similar to his arrangement with MP)?

Aquatic Ursine
Reply to  Morning in America Again
30 days ago

Bowman has expressed that if giving the chance to coach a young Michael Phelps again he would do things very differently. I have faith Marchand can handle this

swimgeek
Reply to  Aquatic Ursine
30 days ago

Marchand seems more laid back and balanced than the singularly focused MP

Kawaik25ean
Reply to  Aquatic Ursine
29 days ago

Léon have great assets to handle his

Great coach, intelligence, self-controlled, handling stress and well surrounded by a swimming family.

Tani
Reply to  Morning in America Again
30 days ago

Most likely, not uncommon at the elite level with a coach of his reputation and success

B1Guy!
30 days ago

I want his thoughts on Shaine Casas! Can he get him to his full potential!?

Kawaik25ean
Reply to  B1Guy!
29 days ago

Unfortunately, had him speak about swimming stars of today not potential ones.

Caleb
Reply to  Kawaik25ean
29 days ago

you’re talking about an individual world champion and a relay world record-holder

RMS
30 days ago

Was he coaching Team France at this meet?

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  RMS
30 days ago

I think Hungary.

Team France woudn’t really make sense considering Leon wasn’t there

snailSpace
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
30 days ago

He wasn’t officially on the Hungarian coaching staff, but he did give the Hungarian media several interviews about Kos.

Nora
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
30 days ago

Coaching Team France in Paris and coaching Team Hungary in Budapest lol.

mds
Reply to  Nora
29 days ago

It was fun to see a couple of well known coaches in the background of some Budapest television shots of winner celebrations for non-native countries with which they now have connections.

Specifically, ASU’s Herbie Behm in Team Canada regalia (probably after Kharun win) and Pierre La Fontaine (former Canadian team director) with the Chinese after one of their breaststroke wins.

I have always enjoyed the willingness in our sport to share skills across competitive lines.

mds
30 days ago

Wisdom and perspective. Thanks for having both, Bob.

Long Strokes
30 days ago

Bowman is him

About Aglaia Pezzato

Aglaia Pezzato

Cresce a Padova e dintorni dove inizialmente porta avanti le sue due passioni, la danza classica e il nuoto, preferendo poi quest’ultimo. Azzurrina dal 2007 al 2010 rappresenta l’Italia con la nazionale giovanile in diverse manifestazioni internazionali fino allo stop forzato per due delicati interventi chirurgici. 2014 Nel 2014 fa il suo esordio …

Read More »