LONDON (AP) — Bob Bowman has been there every step of the way for Michael Phelps — through all the gold medals, world records, championships and, yes, even the occasional missteps.
They forged one of the most unique relationships in all of sports, a coach who took the child of recently divorced parents under his wing at age 11 and nurtured him to greatness in the pool. Along the way, they’ve yelled and screamed at each other and butted heads from time to time. They also developed an enduring relationship that surely will last a lifetime, even with Phelps retiring after his final race of the Olympics on Saturday.
Phelps has never considered working with another coach, a truly remarkable bond in the finicky world of sports.
