Michael Phelps' former coach Bob Bowman reacts as his Texas Longhorns' prodigies dominate US National Championships

Prominent swimming coach Bob Bowman recently reacted to his team's brilliant performance at the US National Championships. The former coach of swimming legend Michael Phelps is now training the swimming team of the University of Texas as the director of the swimming and diving team.

At the recently concluded US National Swimming Championships, the Texas Longhorns team struck gold. With a total of 690 points, the Texas Longhorns emerged as the combined champions. The WolfPack Elite club swimming team stood a distant second with a total of 336.5 points.

Bowman shared his excitement in his Instagram post, as he wrote in the caption

"It was a great week in Indianapolis for the Longhorns! 11 World Championship Team members and 6 going to World University Games. Men’s, Women’s and combined TEAM Champions. Let’s go USA !! 🇺🇸🤘🏼🇺🇸 #TeamTexas"

Bowman previously reacted to swimmer Campbell McKean making it to the US team for the World Aquatics Championships. He shared a post on his X account [previously Twitter],

"🤘🏻🇺🇸"

Bob Bowman also trains the French swimming sensation, Leon Marchand, who is also a student at the University of Texas. The 23-year-old swimmer won four gold medals and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last year under the tutelage of Bowman.

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When Bob Bowman revealed what set Michael Phelps apart from other athletes

When Bob Bowman talked about Michael Phelps and what set him apart [Image Source : Getty]

Bob Bowman is best known for guiding Michael Phelps to unprecedented glory as his swimming coach. He once recounted what set the swimming legend apart from the other athletes.

In a podcast interview on 'Inside with Brett Hawke', which was conducted in October 2020, Bowman revealed some of the outstanding qualities that set Phelps apart. In his words,

“I don't think it's one thing, but if you asked me to point to maybe five things that go into creating a significant champion, I'm going to stay in swimming. Well, number one, he had a family. His sister had already been on the World Championship team, they understood the sport. They were all in on what we were doing, and they were ready to support me in this whole process.” [59:17 onwards]

Bowman further added,

“The answer for Debbie Phelps or Fred Phelps, for that matter, was - "What did the coach say?" Then, "You do what the coach says." There was respect for the coach, respect for what we were going to do and I communicated with them.”

Bob Bowman accompanied the US swimming team as a coach from 2004 to 2012. USA Swimming appointed him the head coach of the US swimming team bound for the Rio Olympics in 2016, which was Michael Phelps' last Olympics as a swimmer.