Back in April 2013, the Turkish Swimming Federation signed a three-and-a-half year agreement with TSE Consulting, which included Bob Bowman, coach of 22-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps, leading their national swimming federation to a new level.
At the time of the announcement, Bowman’s role was described as “overseeing and advising on the development of an elite performance system for Turkish Swimming and will be assisted by a team of experts in the areas of biomechanics, physiology, coaching and others, that have worked with Bowman in the past.”
Two Turkish swimmers who have benefitted already from the opportunity to work with both Bowman and, by extension, Phelps are 17-year old Samet Alkan and 16-year old Kaan Ozcan. Due to progress being made in their in-pool performances, both athletes were given the opportunity to relocate to Baltimore to train at North Baltimore Aquatic Club. “I started swimming when I was seven and now I’m training with Michael Phelps, the most successful swimmer in the world,”, says Alkan.
With Bowman accepting the head coaching position at Arizona State University where he will assume full-time responsibilities in August, the two Turkish athletes will accompany him in his move to Tempe. Per Alkan, “I have been working with Michael for two years. Bob Bowman came to Turkey and he chose us so the federation sent us to America. Now we train in Baltimore, but next year we will be in Arizona.”
Both Alkan and Ozcan are currently competing at the 2015 European Games in Baku, where Alkan competed in heats of the 50m butterfly, 200m IM and 4x200m freestyle relay thus far, clocking a personal best of 26.03 in the 50m butterfly.
Ozcan’s most successful outing in Baku to this point is his 11th place in the men’s 200m butterfly out of semifinals. He clocked a time of 2:01.16 in the heats, followed by a 2:01.39 in semi’s – both a significant time drop off of the 2:15.10 Ozcan registered at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Charlotte just this past May.
just how many hats can one wear next year and still be successful?
I’ve just checked and Ozcan swam 2.02.66 in Charlotte.
I had found that weird a time of 2.15 last month and 2.01 now.
I know that Bowman is a 200 fly training guru but there are limits. 🙂