Butterfly Blueprint: Why Bob Bowman’s 2002 Breakdown of Michael Phelps Still Defines Elite Swimming
Picture: Jake Van de Beek and Paddy Grimes from the University of Galway swim team. Summer Nationals 2025 Abstract This paper revisits Bob Bowman’s 2002 technical review of Michael Phelps’ butterfly stroke, analysing its sustained relevance in contemporary elite swimming. The analysis underscores the fusion of biomechanical efficiency, systematic drill progression, physical conditioning, and psychological preparation that defined Phelps’ success. Despite advancements in sports technology and training methodologies, the foundational principles outlined by Bowman remain central to high-performance swimming. Olivier Marchand, breaking olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, 200 IM world record from 2011 from 1.54.00 to 2.52.69 at the Singapore World Championship on July 3th 2025. This synthesis offers coaches, sport scientists, and athletes an enduring framework for stroke development and performance optimization. Introduction Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, e...