Despite ‘Slow’ Start to Olympic Swimming, Bob Bowman Expects World Records to Fall in Paris

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Despite a slower-than-expected start to Olympic swimming — perhaps due to a shallower-than-usual pool inside La Défense Arena — coach Bob Bowman told Reuters on Monday that he still expects world records to be broken in Paris.

“It’ll have to be a significant swim, though,” said Bowman, 59, who’s assisting the French staff this summer because he trains Leon Marchand at the University of Texas. “Because if you’re looking at the average times, a world record here would be very outstanding.”

Swimming began on Saturday with Australian ace Ariarne Titmus finishing more than two seconds off her own world record en route to the women’s 400 freestyle title. Sunday saw 21-year-old Torri Huske win gold in the women’s 100 butterfly almost half a second slower than Gretchen Walsh‘s world record from last month. The men’s 100 breast was also more than two seconds behind the world record. Then on Monday, Summer McIntosh‘s 400 IM victory in 4:27.71 — more than three seconds off her own world record from April — raised more eyebrows about the speed of the Paris pool.

• Related: Let the Theories Begin: Is the Paris 2024 Olympic Pool Slow?

There has never been an Olympics where a swimming world record has not been broken. There were six world records erased a few years ago in Tokyo, eight at Rio 2016, nine at London 2012, and 25 at Beijing 2008. The most world records broken at one Olympics was 30 back at Munich 1972 while the least is one, which has happened on three occasions: Berlin 1936, London 1948, and Helsinki 1952.

Swimmers and coaches offered other explanations for Paris Olympic swimming times besides the 2.15-meter pool, below World Aquatics’ recommended depth of three meters. Australian freestyler Elijah Winnington, who won silver in the 400 free on Saturday, said the environment of the Olympics is not ideal for producing lifetime bests.

“Most of the time the Olympics isn’t particularly the best playground for the best swimming in the world that you would normally always see at World Championships and local meets,” Winnington said. “There’s no pressure quite like the Olympics, but also the environment just doesn’t really permit it. You’re walking way more in the Village, the food’s not what you are normally used to, and the bus rides are longer.”

French coach Denis Auguin noted that Olympic preparation was more challenging in this three-year cycle with three World Championships since Tokyo.

“We had many high level competitions between Tokyo and now … long course and short course, European Championships, it’s so many,” Auguin said. “So we cannot prepare with the same work and the same time. That’s the only reason.”

Bowman, who also trains Regan Smith, said his swimmers have noticed the shallow pool especially on their underwaters.

“It looks different because they’re closer to the bottom,” Bowman said.