Legendary swimming coach Bob Bowman recently discussed the striking similarities between Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh and Olympic icon Michael Phelps. He emphasized that the comparisons are valid due to their parallel training programs and exceptional talent. Bowman expressed his commitment to guiding McIntosh as she aims for greatness in her swimming career.
Bowman’s View on McIntosh’s Potential
Bowman stated, “I think it’s very fair because they swim almost identical programs.” He sees McIntosh as a generational talent, capable of competing at the highest level. Off the back of her impressive performance at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where she secured four individual gold medals and one bronze, McIntosh is showing promising potential.
Training Under Bowman’s Guidance
Bowman has been coaching McIntosh at the University of Texas for five months and believes that their collaboration will yield excellent results as she prepares for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. During a recent Pro Swim Series meet, McIntosh broke a pool record in the 400m individual medley, previously held by Olympian Kirsty Coventry, with a time of 4:28.13.
- Record Broken: 400m individual medley
- Previous Record: Kirsty Coventry, set in 2008
- McIntosh’s Time: 4:28.13 seconds
Bowman highlighted areas for improvement, particularly her backstroke technique. “We need to spend more time on that,” he noted. McIntosh echoed this sentiment, acknowledging her strengths and weaknesses during her race assessment.
Support from Swimming Canada
John Atkinson, Swimming Canada’s high-performance director, attended the Pro Swim Series to monitor McIntosh’s progress. He supports Canadian athletes training outside the national program, emphasizing that the priority is to act in the athletes’ best interests.
“Bob will guide and challenge Summer,” Atkinson stated, reinforcing the collaborative effort between Bowman and Swimming Canada. Both McIntosh and Bowman have clear goals and plans for her future.
Goals for the Los Angeles Olympics
McIntosh, eager to etch her name in swimming history, aims to win five gold medals at the LA 2028 Olympics. “I think when you’re chasing something that is as hard as getting five individual gold medals, you have to articulate that dream,” she explained. This ambitious goal mirrors that of Phelps, who previously achieved a similar feat.
World Record Aspirations
In addition to Olympic gold, McIntosh is focusing on breaking the world record in the 200m butterfly, currently held by China’s Liu Zige at 2:01.81. She has been getting closer to this record, after finishing just 0.18 seconds behind at the last world championships.
Commitment to Education and Balance
Beyond swimming, McIntosh is pursuing an accounting course at the University of Texas. She believes education is crucial for her development, recognizing that a career in swimming can’t last forever. “Getting a university education has always been very important to me,” she remarked.
Bowing and McIntosh’s partnership offers both a rigorous training regimen and a supportive environment. “We’re not trying to wow anybody right now; we’re focused on putting in the work,” Bowman said. With plans for improvement and an eye towards long-term goals, they are poised for success in the swimming arena.
