With Michael Phelps’ longtime coach, Bob Bowman, accepting the head coaching position at Arizona State University (ASU), we are continuing to learn which members of the current North Baltimore Aquatic Club training squad will be joining him when he heads out to Tempe on a full-time basis come August.
Along with Allison Schmitt, Michael Phelps and Chase Kalisz who already made their intentions to accompany Bowman to Tempe known, 2015 Australian National Champion, Daniel Tranter, has revealed to SwimSwam he will also be relocating to Arizona in his training leading up to Rio.
Tranter’s training with NBAC first came to pass after having a post-2014 Pan Pacs conversation with his mentor and good friend, former Australian head coach Brian Sutton. The pair decided to reach out to Bowman regarding the possibility of Tranter moving to Baltimore to train for a 3 month trial leading into Australia’s National Championships. After Bowman agreed with the plan, on a 90-day temporary visa, Tranter headed to the Charm City and got to work with the NBAC squad.
Even in just his brief time of training at Meadowbrook Aquatic Center with Bowman’s team, the self-proclaimed NBA and college basketball fanatic found himself immediately prospering with his new teammates and the overall training philosophy of his new coach. “I feel really comfortable with the NBAC team, both athletes and staff. In a short period of time I was convinced that they were the people I needed to surround myself with if I was going to give myself the best chance to achieve everything I wanted in the sport”, Tranter tells SwimSwam.
In an interview earlier this year, Tranter specifically called out Michael Phelps as the “best training partner in the world” that he could ask for, viewing the whole scene as “a rare opportunity to train with the best guy in history in my event.” Tranter relished being able to “learn from watching the way Phelps goes about things, his mindset and approach.”
As for Bowman, Tranter tells SwimSwam, “Bob and I get along really well. His no-nonsense approach to coaching is something I respect. He is able to push us to do what needs to be done for us reach our goals while also being aware that we are all individuals and tick in different ways. I feel like as an athlete he understands me well.”
Although Tranter swam away with his country’s national title in the 200 IM this past April, his 1:58.73 performance fell painstakingly short of Australia’s minimum Worlds qualifying time of 1:58.17 and, as such, will not be traveling to Kazan this summer. But, the young star is optimistic about his future, which includes continued focus on the 200 IM event, while also possibly exploring other races to add to his repertoire.
Tranter explains, “I’m not 100% what my event focus will be going into Rio. I love doing a lot of different events. The only certainty at this point is the 200 IM but I will look at where the events fall over the duration of the meet and go from there.” At his country’s nationals this past April, Tranter also competed in the 100m breaststroke, where he finished 4th, as well as the 200 breast and 400 IM contests where he did not make it out of prelims.
Tranter’s return date to the U.S. is currently unknown as he is waiting on his visa application, but he is very confident he will “get really good preparation in before Olympic Trials next year and then between trials and the Olympic Games also.” Reflecting on his experience in Baltimore thus far, Tranter expresses, “ I have really enjoyed training with the NBAC group. They’re an extremely hard-working group of athletes but are also a really good bunch of people to be around. With a mix of Olympic and World Championship medalists, successful college swimmers and National team members from several countries they have all contributed to creating a professional and enjoyable training environment which we will all be taking full advantage of in the lead up to Rio.”
Worth noting Tranter was entered in but did not compete in the 200br or 400IM at Australian champs this year. Only the 100br and 200IM.