Is it fair to compare a rising swimming star to an Olympic legend? That's the question on many minds as Summer McIntosh, a phenomenal young talent, sets her sights on an incredible five gold medals at the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics. Her coach, the renowned Bob Bowman – the architect behind Michael Phelps' legendary career – believes these comparisons are not only justified but also a testament to McIntosh's extraordinary potential.
Bowman, who began coaching the 19-year-old prodigy at the University of Texas last fall, has been deeply impressed by her mental fortitude. "What makes her great is her mindset for sure," he shared, highlighting her unflappable nature during both intense training sessions and competitive meets. "She sticks to the plan. She focuses on what she needs to do, and she’s willing to do the preparation, which is the important part." He further elaborated on her dedication, noting, "When she comes in every day of practice, I can give her anything, and she will say thank you and what else do you want me to do. That’s her attitude. It’s like whatever it takes, she is willing to do."
McIntosh herself feels a strong connection with Bowman, describing him as an "amazing coach" who sets a positive tone for the entire training group. "He comes on deck every day with a great attitude. He wants to be there. He coaches every single meter that we do, he’s fully engaged in the practice. I just think that kind of rubs off on all of the swimmers and we kind of carry that sort of attitude towards our own swimming as well."
But here's where it gets interesting: the comparisons to Michael Phelps aren't new. Even before joining Bowman, McIntosh's dominance across multiple swimming disciplines and her participation in many of the same events as Phelps have drawn parallels. Bowman acknowledges this, stating, "I think it’s very fair because they swim almost identical programs." He points to their shared strengths in events like the 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley, and 400 individual medley. "They’re generational talents, they work at a very high level, and so I certainly understand the similarities."
And this is the part most people miss: While Phelps and McIntosh share many of their strongest events, a key difference emerges in their broader event portfolios. At their peak, Phelps also excelled in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. McIntosh, on the other hand, is the current world record holder in the 400 freestyle and has also ventured into the 800 freestyle, though she's expressed a desire to revisit her prowess in the 200 freestyle.
Bowman's ambition for McIntosh is clear: "I want to take her as far as she can go. And if she does that, I think she’ll end up being right up there." This ambition is fueled by McIntosh's own audacious goal: five individual gold medals at the LA Olympics. She believes that vocalizing such a monumental dream is crucial for its realization. "I think when you’re chasing something that is as hard as getting five individual gold medals at an Olympic Games, you have to be able to say it out loud and you have to be able to share that dream with your coaches and people who are surrounding you, because it’s not going to come easy," she explained. "Even saying it out loud to Bob Bowman as well, I feel like it kind of makes it more real for me and of course, he’s been through someone trying to get eight gold medals before, so he knows what it takes to get there."
Bowman is confident in their strategy: "They’re all doable and I think we have a plan to get there. I just think she has to enjoy these steps along the way and just keep feeling like she’s getting better incrementally. And if we do that for the next two years, she’ll be where she wants to be."
Beyond the Olympic dream, McIntosh is also focused on breaking the super-suited world record in the 200 butterfly. Bowman is diligently working with her on physical strength and technical refinements, emphasizing a long-term approach. "We’re trying to really think long term to the end of the summer, so we’re not trying to wow anybody with what we’re doing right now because she needs to put in the work, so that’s what we’re doing."
Here's a thought-provoking point: McIntosh is also pursuing a university education, currently enrolled in an accounting class at Texas. She stated, "Getting a university education has always been very important to me... It’s really important to get an education. You can’t swim forever." This commitment to academics alongside her elite swimming career raises the question: Can an athlete truly achieve peak performance in both domains simultaneously, or does one inevitably have to take a backseat?
At a recent Pro Swim Series event in Austin, McIntosh showcased her current form by winning the 200 IM and 400 IM, securing second in the 100 butterfly, and fourth in the 100 freestyle. Bowman, ever the perfectionist, praised her breaststroke but expressed dissatisfaction with her backstroke, demonstrating his commitment to pushing her to new heights.
What are your thoughts on the Phelps-McIntosh comparisons? Do you believe it's appropriate to place such high expectations on a young athlete? Share your opinions in the comments below!
