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Despite ‘Slow’ Start to Olympic Swimming, Bob Bowman Expects World Records to Fall in Paris

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Despite a slower-than-expected start to Olympic swimming — perhaps due to a shallower-than-usual pool inside La Défense Arena — coach Bob Bowman told Reuters on Monday that he still expects world records to be broken in Paris.

“It’ll have to be a significant swim, though,” said Bowman, 59, who’s assisting the French staff this summer because he trains Leon Marchand at the University of Texas. “Because if you’re looking at the average times, a world record here would be very outstanding.”

Swimming began on Saturday with Australian ace Ariarne Titmus finishing more than two seconds off her own world record en route to the women’s 400 freestyle title. Sunday saw 21-year-old Torri Huske win gold in the women’s 100 butterfly almost half a second slower than Gretchen Walsh‘s world record from last month. The men’s 100 breast was also more than two seconds behind the world record. Then on Monday, Summer McIntosh‘s 400 IM victory in 4:27.71 — more than three seconds off her own world record from April — raised more eyebrows about the speed of the Paris pool.

There has never been an Olympics where a swimming world record has not been broken. There were six world records erased a few years ago in Tokyo, eight at Rio 2016, nine at London 2012, and 25 at Beijing 2008. The most world records broken at one Olympics was 30 back at Munich 1972 while the least is one, which has happened on three occasions: Berlin 1936, London 1948, and Helsinki 1952.

Swimmers and coaches offered other explanations for Paris Olympic swimming times besides the 2.15-meter pool, below World Aquatics’ recommended depth of three meters. Australian freestyler Elijah Winnington, who won silver in the 400 free on Saturday, said the environment of the Olympics is not ideal for producing lifetime bests.

“Most of the time the Olympics isn’t particularly the best playground for the best swimming in the world that you would normally always see at World Championships and local meets,” Winnington said. “There’s no pressure quite like the Olympics, but also the environment just doesn’t really permit it. You’re walking way more in the Village, the food’s not what you are normally used to, and the bus rides are longer.”

French coach Denis Auguin noted that Olympic preparation was more challenging in this three-year cycle with three World Championships since Tokyo.

“We had many high level competitions between Tokyo and now … long course and short course, European Championships, it’s so many,” Auguin said. “So we cannot prepare with the same work and the same time. That’s the only reason.”

Bowman, who also trains Regan Smith, said his swimmers have noticed the shallow pool especially on their underwaters.

“It looks different because they’re closer to the bottom,” Bowman said.

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Thomas The Tank Engine
3 months ago

France owes us big time by building kiddie pool

We are robbed of the first 56 w100 backstroke (which would have put w100 back on the parity with m100breast).

GBR would have broken 4×200 WR in a decent pool.

FOUR DAYS WITHOUT world record?

Has it been happened before in Olympics?

IRO
3 months ago

It’s really been weird to see them swimming so close to the underwater cameras. I noticed that on Regan’s and Gretchen’s swims in particular.

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  IRO
3 months ago

It’s so weird watching how all the sh*ts on the bottom (cameras) look very visible and close.

Boknows34
Reply to  IRO
3 months ago

It’s giving me anxiety.

Troyy
3 months ago

He’s probably expecting Marchand to break the 200 breast WR.

mahmoud
Reply to  Troyy
3 months ago

but zsc looks good

Diehard
3 months ago

How do ASU pros now feel about Bob coaching just Leon going into Paris? Regan, Luca, Chase?

Xman
Reply to  Diehard
3 months ago

I think he is coaching them too. Problem is he wasn’t with them at camp for the last month.

Diehard
Reply to  Xman
3 months ago

Similar to Michigan pros and how they felt like 95% of Bob’s attention went to MP! Very similar!

Tracy Kosinski
3 months ago

We will see more scratches due to Covid as it’ll get worse before better. There may be too much travelling and running around before the Games. Social media can play a huge part on a swimmer’s psyche, so reading about the pool depth can’t be good.

From Tokyo onwards we saw many national and world records broken that it is unfair of us to expect more.

It will be strange if no WRs are broken, but there’s a first time for everything.

Eugene
3 months ago

The pool’s not slow. It’s just different. Those
who figured out how to use it, hit ORs and PBs. For example, how the hell could Pan swim 46.9 if the pool is as slow as most think? Would it be 45.9 in a “fast” pool or what? You must be crazy to believe in that. Bowman is right, results are going to be faster towards the end of the competition. And I’m pretty sure a lot of Paris winning times will beat Tokio times.

cow from china
Reply to  Eugene
3 months ago

How do you suggest one should “use” this pool to swim as fast compared to another?

Viking Steve
Reply to  Eugene
3 months ago

(narrator voice) because they had 3 years of training uninterrupted by a global pandemic…

Swimmer
3 months ago

great words from the ‘French coach’ we will wait and see what happens

Facts
Reply to  Swimmer
3 months ago

You haven’t heard of Singapore coaching legend Eddie Reese

420openwaterswimmer
Reply to  Facts
3 months ago

underrated comment

Lpman
3 months ago

This slow pool talk has to stop

David S
Reply to  Lpman
3 months ago

Never!
It’s the hill I’ll *** on !

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Lpman
3 months ago

Eh, it does take a lot of the shine off the meet tho.

If anything, it’s a great counter to all the mouthbreathers that always said “the Olympics are just about place, not time.”

Well ya but when everyone goes slow as hell it kinda makes you miss fast swims.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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