Bob Bowman, weapon within the work of Léon Marchand – Libération

2024-06-18 06:57:00

Will Bob Bowman, like his Indochine-built homonym, be a real hero of all time? If by “time” we imply the good instances of Léon Marchand, a younger French swimmer who participated this week within the French swimming championships in Chartres, then undoubtedly, sure. However this hero will not be utterly misplaced within the infernal valley. Coach Bowman’s yr, who simply celebrated his 59th birthday, could not be higher.

In March, the All-American received the school championship with Arizona State swimmers, the primary within the college’s historical past. A victory marked by a specific expertise, that of his French colt, whom Bowman has been taking to the highest of the swimming world for nearly 4 years. Till July 21, Bowman adopted Toulouse from a distance within the neighborhood of Chartres, the place Marchand ought to guarantee, with out forcing an excessive amount of, his qualification for Paris. The primary problem on his highway to Paris 2024: affirm his management within the 400m medley, during which Marchand beat, final summer time, the world file beforehand held by a pure swimming monster, Michael Phelps – surpassed even by the varsity Bowman, we are going to come. again to that. It was carried out, this Monday, June 17. After having separated his rivals from the primary video games, Léon Marchand received, with out flash, in 4′10″ 62, eight seconds from his file (4 ‘2″ 50).

28 Olympic medals with Michael Phelps

The 22-year-old champion returned to France at the start of Could, whereas his coach was in america to oversee his swimmers competing for the American Olympic qualifiers. In July, then again, Bowman will comply with his specialist over the last preparation for the Blues of the river and through the Video games, he’ll put on the blue shirt of the French workforce, totally within the employees as he has promised to for the reason that finish of final yr. If all goes as deliberate, Bob Bowman will see a golden streak for his protégé, who can compete in 4 particular person occasions and two relays.

To complete this 2024, Bowman will take up residence on the College of Texas, taking with him Léon Marchand, who has simply modified however will proceed to coach with the college workforce. In Texas, Bob was anticipated to be the Messiah. He, the well-known coach “who turned the Arizona State program right into a nationwide champion the final 9 seasons” and people made in 2016 in Odo Corridor is legendary (World Swimming Pantheon), we are able to learn within the Texan press when his arrival was introduced.

The 60-year-old has been touring throughout america in pool sneakers since 1986, when he obtained his instructing diploma. From the basins of Florida, Ohio, Nevada, California, Alabama, Michigan, Arizona… all the best way to Texas. It was in Maryland, in 1996, that his life took a turning level. A instructor on the North Baltimore Aquatic Membership, he was launched to a boy with promising previous instances. The next yr, Bob Bowman took this little Michael Phelps below his steering. He did not let it go for twenty years, he taught it till he was 31, when his retirement got here, after the Rio Olympics in 2016. The duo’s file: 28 Olympic medals, together with 23 Golden. The best file ever held by a swimmer. Or by an Olympic athlete in any respect. The celebrity of this sport was, by the best way, given to Bob Bowman. Since 2000 years, within the younger galaxy, there was a coach, says the French Federation, “do not simply cross the competitors ponds”. It isn’t apparent at first look once you see this individual of common measurement, with a spherical head and sq. glasses.

“I at all times raise the tree”

In his autobiography revealed after the Beijing Video games in 2008, Michael Phelps summarized the speculation, “simple”out of your teacher: “We do what others cannot do, or will not do […] Bob could be very demanding. However with you I realized this essential reality: nothing is unattainable. On the peak of his fame, Phelps usually additionally had interviews about Bowman: “With out you, I would not be right here. I’d not be the individual I’m as we speak. ” The coach is greater than a mentor, additionally serves as a “father’s wages” for younger Michael who has a tough time experiencing the separation of his mother and father: “He was there on a regular basis. Each time I want you. ” At the moment, the 2 males are nonetheless shut mates. And when Bowman posted Instagram posts to have fun his leads to the college championship, Deborah Phelps, Titan’s mom, at all times added her little remark adorned with a coronary heart.

Uncompromising, the engineer at all times pushes his followers ahead. When, throughout his preparation for college finals final March, Launch it ask him about “Bowman’s Recipe”The individual in query replied that: “I believe the key of my job is to by no means be too glad with something. I am at all times selecting up wooden. And I throw challenges at individuals who by no means take it.”

Past his toughness, Bob Bowman remains to be, and above all, praised for his human qualities. A personality that matches his first identify: Bob, within the French creativeness, is a chilly individual, like Marley, Dylan or L’Eponge. A great way is to make a joke, both to keep away from questions from the press, or to focus on the directions given to your swimmers, together with in French, the fundamentals because of the highschool instructor a move by way of the Sorbonne. In entrance of the digital camera from French TV got here to obtain information from Léon Marchand in 2022, the yr of the primary world championships received, Bowman was indignant by calling his guardian ” me”. Is laughter part of your coaching? To this query, a yr in the past, Bowman replied, nonetheless laughing: “In fact. I attempt to make it brighter. The work is tough, I do not should be too exhausting.”.

Flip all the pieces you contact to gold

Throughout the trade in March as nicely LibeLéon Marchand confirmed it as “Extraordinary Trainer” WHO group “make studying extra enjoyable”. “I’ve by no means seen anybody as influential as youhe continued. Each time we do a extremely exhausting program, he runs across the pool attempting to encourage us. “ Your college students at Arizona State are equally as pleasant. “He is a extremely nice coach, he pushes us ahead every single day”, praised Canadian Ilya Kharun. So after all, the Bowman technique will not be for everybody. The instructor has combined reminiscences of his first expertise with a French, ex-director Yannick Agnel (accused of rape and sexual assault), who he wrote from 2013 to 2014. However this aborted collaboration made him put his shoulders with French sports activities tradition, and to higher cowl Léon Marchand when he arrived in Arizona.

The story between Bob Bowman and Léon Marchand, who’re able to do something to be coached by an enormous identify, started with an electronic mail despatched in 2020. It has already led to the killing of medals, which could be very missing in swimming France for the reason that golden age. age at the start of the 2010 decade that Lacourt, Manaudou, Muffat and Stravius ​​​​stay. And can proceed to construct this summer time. Together with his seven Olympics as a coach and his expertise as the pinnacle coach of america Olympic workforce, Bowman can be a beneficial asset for Marchand but additionally for the remainder of the Blues. Hoping that he’ll proceed to show all the pieces he touches into gold.