"Bob Bowman is a psycho when it comes to details": Michael Phelps shares his coach's secrets that turned him into greatest swimmer of all time

Michael Phelps has claimed that swimming coach Bob Bowman's attention to minute details was what helped him win almost all of the races of his career. The 23-time Olympic champion credited his success to Bowman’s grueling training regime.

Phelps met Bowman when he was 12 years old and told him that he wanted to swim in the Olympics. The rest is history. Phelps made his Olympic debut three years later at the age of 15 at the 2000 Summer Games. While he didn't win any medals in his maiden Olympic appearance, the 39-year-old went on to win 28 in his next four appearances.

Phelps broke nearly 39 world records in his career, and although he holds none of them in 2024, his achievement of winning eight gold medals at a single Olympics will always remain unbeatable with swimmers opting for lesser and lesser events. His last individual record, 400m I'M was broken by France's Leon Marchand, who also happens to be coached by Bob Bowman.

Michael Phelps believes Merchand can go a lot faster than the current world record, but how? He claimed there was no better than Bowman to tell him that.

"I can't say it enough - he's in great hands with Bob. I mean, Bob is a psycho when it comes to details. (laughs) I mean psycho in the best, most endearing, heartfelt, loving way," he said (via Forbes).

Explaining Bowman’s style of coaching, Phelps stated that he would put him through every possible situation to have an edge when the real competition starts.

"Every single day, our coach Bob is giving us certain challenges to prepare us for the moment those lights come on. The most pressured situations. That’s why Léon and I have been able to rise above the rest. Because Bob has literally put us through every possible situation. So, if there’s a race that comes down to a touch, you can pretty much guarantee it's going to be one of us that's going to win that race. It's because of the repetitions that you do every single day," he added.

Leon Marchand added that he found winning an actual race easier than practicing with Bowman.

Michael Phelps was named the best athlete of the 21st century

2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming - Michael Phelps ranked No.1 on ESPN's all-time list (Photo-Getty)

Michael Phelps is not only the most decorated swimmer of all time, he is the most decorated Olympian of all time, and that too by a very big margin. He has won 23 gold medals at the Olympic Games, and the next best by anyone is nine by Soviet Union's gymnast Larisa Latynina.

Although Phelps retired in 2016, he was ranked No. 1 in ESPN's 100 best athletes of the 21st century. The 39-year-old pipped some big names to take the honor and expressed his happiness over the nomination as well.

"You think these are some of the biggest sports icons on the planet. So, to be voted no 1, you know, I was speechless. Like, this is awesome," he said.

Michael Phelps was ranked ahead of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, Serena Williams, and more on ESPN's list.