One of the world’s top swimming training hubs is about to get even stronger with the arrival of Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh.
The 18-year-old triple Olympic gold medallist from Paris 2024 is set to join legendary coach Bob Bowman in Texas later this year, following the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
Bowman, who famously guided Michael Phelps to 23 Olympic titles, now leads a high-powered pro group at the University of Texas at Austin. His current roster includes French star Léon Marchand and American world record holder Regan Smith. McIntosh will train alongside them but won’t be part of the Texas Longhorns NCAA program.
For now, McIntosh continues her training under Fred Vergnoux in Antibes, France—a setup she will maintain through the world championships in July and August.
Speaking to CBC Sports, McIntosh acknowledged the move had long been anticipated:
“I think there’s a lot of excitement, and it was something that most people could have guessed. I do similar events to what Bob coaches,” she said. “Michael Phelps is the greatest of all time… and Bob didn’t just create Michael, he’s coached so many amazing swimmers. That consistency gives me a lot of confidence.”
McIntosh made history in Paris by winning gold in the 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley, and 400m individual medley—becoming the first Canadian athlete to capture three gold medals at a single Olympic Games. She made her Olympic debut at age 14 at the Tokyo 2020 Games held in 2021.
