The Turkish Swimming Federation has signed a three-and-a-half year agreement with TSE Consulting, and specifically Michael Phelps’ former coach Bob Bowman, to lead their National swimming federation to a new level.
The agreement was announced in a press release by TSE on Tuesday, who said that he would “be overseeing and advising on the development of an elite performance system for Turkish Swimming and will be assisted by a team of experts in the areas of biomechanics, physiology, coaching, and others, that have worked with Bowman in the past.”
Also cited were goals of beginning to develop the sport at the grass roots level and get more Turkish young people involved in swimming.
The Turks sent 6 swimmers to the 2012 Summer Olympics and have some very good talent at the most elite level. That includes Derya Buyukuncu, though at 36 years old and having competed in the last six Olympic Games consecutively he’s at the tail end of his career.
Burcu Dolunay is also of quality on the women’s side, very nearly semi-finaling in the 100 free at the Olympics (22nd – 55.35), but at 29 years old she’s probably coming toward the twilight of her career.
The focus instead will be on developing the junior ranks of the group, and that should start with Hazal Sankaya and Ediz Yildiremer.
Sankaya didn’t have a great meet at the Olympics, but in 2011, when she was only 14 years old, she broke the Turkish National Records in the long course 100 back (1:02.58) and 200 back (2:15.40). Yildiremer just completed his freshman season at the University of Georgia in the United States, and won the European Junior Championship in the 800 free in both 2010 and 2011.
23-year old sprinter Kemal Arda Gurdal, who was 27th at the Olympics in the 100 free, could also be counted among that group.
In total, Turkey sent 6 pool swimmers to the Olympic Games.
Among Bowman’s other assignments since joining TSE in September includes working with British Swimming as a part of their Olympic review committee. Bowman coached Phelps from childhood through to the most decorated Olympian of all time, and built the North Baltimore program into one of the most recognizable in the world, so he has proven the ability to manage a program and athletes from all levels.
Turkey’s moving up in the ranks….Short Course World’s last year, they’re in the running for 2020, and now they have Bob Bowman. I’d be interested to see how much focus he puts on Turkey over the USA.
Didn’t Bowman announce a “sabbatical” from full-time coaching? Also in a sport where most coaches work grueling hours for little pay why begrudge him his money? I also think helping Turkey is very important for the growth of the sport at the Olympic level….especially as we try to get the IOC to add more swimming events, broad political support from countries not traditional swimming powers is critical.
Who’s coaching Allison Schmitt?
That’s what I want to know.
Me too. I remember Allison giving an interview saying that she would be headed back to Baltimore after finishing up at UGA. And I thought Bowman’s sabbatical was only for a year. I guess we’ll see what happens.
The Bob Bowman cash in continues. I wonder when any of these federations will realize they are no better off having paid large sums of money to Michael Phelps’ coach for his advice.
Go Turkey!!!
go USA! now all about the $$$ and not USA swimming!
If he can have the money… why so bitter reaction? Is he a slave that can only work for US swimming? Working for another country needs capital punishment? Tell That to all foreign coaches US recruited to develop a lot of sports during ages..
Save for priests and social workers, who does not work to earn a living and maximize that? Bowman has a commercial appeal as an elite swim coach / guru to follow and harvest, and that is what he is doing.
What else is Bowman to do? Playgirl cover photo people didn’t call.
maybe coach nbac?! wasn’t he one who didn’t like universities having foreign swimmers?
I do see a valid point some make that it will “get a little weird” considering Bowman is also a USA coach at the World Championships this Summer having contracted with other national swimming bodies.
What is his role at NBAC now?
Bowman is harvesting the fruit from the plant whose seed he planted in late 90s.