Canadian swim star Summer McIntosh confirms she's joining famed coach Bob Bowman's program

Canadian swimming phenom Summer McIntosh is making it official that following July's world swimming championships she'll be moving to Texas to be coached by Bob Bowman, who famously guided American Michael Phelps to a record 23 Olympic gold medals.

In an exclusive interview with CBC Sports on the pool deck at Toronto's Pan Am Sports Centre on Tuesday, McIntosh said she's committed to Bowman's pro team in Austin, Texas and will be moving there starting late August.

"I think there's a lot of excitement and I think it was something that most people could have guessed even when I started off just because I do similar events to what Bob coaches," McIntosh said. "Some might say it was basically inevitable, but I think now that it's actually happening, hopefully people will be excited."

Bowman served as a coach on the U.S. Olympic team from 2004-2016, and was head coach at Arizona State University from 2015 to 2024. The 59-year-old moved to the U of Texas last year and leads what is widely regarded as the top training group in the world, including Frenchman Leon Marchand, who won four gold medals in Paris last summer, and American stars Regan Smith and Simone Manuel.

In a February interview with CBC Sports, McIntosh said she was leaving Sarasota and hinted at this being her next move, but that she wanted to visit the University of Texas, where Bowman leads the swim program and also runs a professional program, to get a better sense of if she would fit in. 

WATCH | McIntosh joins CBC Sports to discuss training with Bob Bowman:

Summer McIntosh on decision to train under Michael Phelps' former coach

McIntosh is now ready to make the leap, where she will be swimming with Bowman's professional program rather than the NCAA. 

"Bob