Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. World Championships: Bob Bowman Balancing Multiple Coaching Roles As Bob Bowman met with the media ahead of the last prelims session at the World Championships, the Team USA coach was asked how he has balanced his duties with the United States with tending to the needs of the international swimmers he coaches at Arizona State – both with the college team and pro group. This week, France’s Leon Marchand and Hungary’s Hubert Kos combined for four gold medals. Marchand won both medley events and the 200 butterfly while Kos captured the title in the 200 backstroke. Both swimmers train under Bowman at Arizona State and helped the Sun Devils finish second to Cal at the NCAA Championships. The United States has won more than 30 medals, the most of any country. Australia won the gold-medal count for the first time since 2001, the last time the World Championships were held in Fukuoka. “I think if you look at swimming, every coach on the U.S. team is coaching a foreign swimmer,” Bowman said. “So, there’s always that dynamic of the people you are coaching at home, and the people on the National Team you happen to be working with. My concern when I’m here, No. 1, is that I’m taking care of every USA responsibility I have. Making our relays as good as they can be. Making sure these athletes are supported the full extent they can. Outside of that, I can certainly keep an eye on Leon and see what is going on. It’s not like he needs that much attention from me. I understand it, but there is kind of a global community in swimming and everyone of the coaches, almost, on the deck is involved with swimmers from more than one country. “It’s almost 100 percent USA. By the time we get to this meet, the internationals have done their training. They’re warming up. Maybe it’s 97.5 percent USA and by my consciousness, I’ll say good job on that. I don’t spend much time on that. They know what to do.” Bowman was asked if it is ethical to coach the United States but also work with athletes from other countries. Many of the top coaches have adopted this approach in the past. Notably, former Arizona coach Frank Busch coached all four members of the South African 400 freestyle relay that won gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. “It’s ethically OK with me,” Bowman said. “Bottom line is I get paid to coach these guys at ASU. I’m representing my country for the love of my country and happy to do that and I have some skills to do that. I don’t think there’s an ethical question. Everyone gets support. It’s not a zero sum. I’m not taking time away from the U.S. guys to say ‘nice job, Leon. Make your breaststroke better.’”
