U.S. names Capitani, Bowman to lead swim team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps’ longtime coach, and Carol Capitani were announced Friday as head coaches of the U.S. swimming team for this summer’s world championship in Fukuoka, Japan.

Bowman will lead the men’s team. Capitani, the women’s head coach at Texas, will head the women’s squad, USA Swimming said.

Bowman, who is the men’s and women’s coach at Arizona State, will be serving as a head coach at the world championship for the fourth time, in addition to handling that role at Phelps’ final Olympics in 2016.

Bowman also was on the U.S. staff at four other Olympics: 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2020.

This will be the biggest role for Capitani on the international stage. She served as U.S. women’s head coach at the 2013 Duel in the Pool and the 2017 World University Games.

Capitani was an assistant coach at last summer’s world championships in Budapest, Hungary.

“Coach Capitani and coach Bowman are proven leaders and teachers in our sport,” USA Swimming national team managing director Lindsay Mintenko said in a statement. “We’re grateful for their commitment to USA Swimming and for their contributions to the members of our national teams.”

Long-course swimming at the world championships will be held July 23-30.