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National Post

Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh to train with Michael Phelps' coach. What we know about the move

Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh has announced plans to move to Austin, Texas to train with Bob Bowman, former coach for Olympic superstar Michael Phelps, CBC reports. Article content His coaching expertise and experience with multi-event swimmers will help her achieve her own ambitious goals, most notably to win five individual gold medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, she told CBC Sports. Article content McIntosh won three Olympic gold medals, as well as a silver, at the 2024 Paris Games. Article content Article content She plans to move to Austin after the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in July to join Bowman's professional training group, regarded as one of the best in the world and including other top swimmers. Article content McIntosh says she values the individualized and intense training approach Bowman offers, which she feels aligns with her needs as a high-performance athlete competing in multiple events. Article content Before her move, McIntosh will continue training under French Olympic coach Fred Vergnoux, who has helped her develop a strong aerobic foundation and competitive mindset. Article content Why Bowman? Article content Bowman guided Phelps to a record 23 Olympic gold medals and has also coached other elite swimmers such as Regan Smith, and Simone Manuel and Léon Marchand, who won four gold medals in Paris. All of them have achieved world-class results under his guidance. Article content Bowman specializes in preparing swimmers who compete in multiple events, managing complex training regimens that balance volume, intensity, and recovery. This can be valuable for athletes aiming to win several medals during a single Games. Article content He is known for tailoring his training plans to each athlete's specific needs, strengths and goals. Article content Article content Article content Bowman emphasizes building trust and understanding with his athletes, supporting not just their physical development but also their mental resilience — an essential factor for Olympic success. Article content Rather than fixating on medals or external results, Bowman teaches athletes to concentrate on perfecting their performance and hitting personal benchmarks. This reduces pressure and helps maintain consistency under stress. He teaches athletes to focus on their own race and performance, not on competitors or outcomes, to avoid choking under Olympic-level pressure.