TEMPE— 2023 was a historic year for Sun Devil Swim and Dive with a lot of accomplishments to be proud of and the year capped off with awards for head coach Bob Bowman, junior Léon Marchand and freshman Ilya Kharun.
Bob Bowman- U.S. Coach of the Year (2023 Swammy Awards by SwimSwam)
Bowman was named the U.S. Coach of the Year by SwimSwam as part of their annual Swammy awards. In 2023, Bowman led the Sun Devil men to their first Pac-12 championship in program history and as runner-ups at NCAA Championships, which is the highest finish at NCAA's in program history.
After the 2022-23 season, Bowman was the head coach for the U.S. men at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. In June, he was named the Sun Devil Head Coach of the Year in honor of Frank Kush.
In September, Bowman was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. as one of 13 inductees. Joining him in ISHOF induction was Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time who Bowman was the longtime coach of.
Léon Marchand- European Male Swimmer of the Year (2023 Swammy Awards by Swim Swam) and World Male Swimmer of the Year (Swimming World)
The honors kept pouring in for Marchand after a record setting 2023 he had on both the collegiate and international stage as he received the honors of European Male Swimmer of the Year by SwimSwam and World Male Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World.
At the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Marchand broke the 400m IM world record, which was a record previously set by Phelps in 2008. Marchand clocked in a 4:02.50 as that was the first of three events he would win at Worlds as he also took home the gold in the 200m fly (1:52.43) and 200m IM (1:54.82).
At NCAA's prior to competing in Fukuoka, Marchand set program records and NCAA records in the 200 yard breast, 200 yard IM and 400 yard IM, which he took home the gold in all three of those events in Minneapolis. He also was named the Men's Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year and the CSCAA Division I Men's Swimmer of the Year for the second time in as many seasons to cap off his sophomore campaign.
Ilya Kharun- World Junior Male Swimmer of the Year (2023 Swammy Awards by Swim Swam)
Though he's just in his first year with the Sun Devils, Kharun has already made his mark on the record board as he holds the school records in both the 100 yard fly and 200 yard fly, which were set during competition at the NC State Invite in November. To end 2023, Kharun was named the World Junior Male Swimmer of the Year by SwimSwam.
Prior to his arrival in Tempe, Kharun set a Canadian record in the 200m fly as he finished with a time of 1:53.82 as he took fourth in the event at Worlds. During his time in Fukuoka, Kharun also competed in the 50m free and 100m fly.
Along with holding school records in the 100 yard fly and 200 yard fly, Kharun leads all Division I male swimmers in his time in the 200 fly and his 200 free relay holds the program record, which was set at the NC State Invite.
Bob Bowman- U.S. Coach of the Year (2023 Swammy Awards by SwimSwam)
Bowman was named the U.S. Coach of the Year by SwimSwam as part of their annual Swammy awards. In 2023, Bowman led the Sun Devil men to their first Pac-12 championship in program history and as runner-ups at NCAA Championships, which is the highest finish at NCAA's in program history.
A HUGE weekend for @coach_bowman! ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) October 2, 2023
Bowman was one of 13 named to the International Swimming Hall of Fame ??
??: https://t.co/XNScZdUPQe#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/0hFLMNo0TB
After the 2022-23 season, Bowman was the head coach for the U.S. men at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. In June, he was named the Sun Devil Head Coach of the Year in honor of Frank Kush.
In September, Bowman was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. as one of 13 inductees. Joining him in ISHOF induction was Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time who Bowman was the longtime coach of.
Léon Marchand- European Male Swimmer of the Year (2023 Swammy Awards by Swim Swam) and World Male Swimmer of the Year (Swimming World)
The honors kept pouring in for Marchand after a record setting 2023 he had on both the collegiate and international stage as he received the honors of European Male Swimmer of the Year by SwimSwam and World Male Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World.
At the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Marchand broke the 400m IM world record, which was a record previously set by Phelps in 2008. Marchand clocked in a 4:02.50 as that was the first of three events he would win at Worlds as he also took home the gold in the 200m fly (1:52.43) and 200m IM (1:54.82).
Leon Marchand Named World Male Swimmer of the Year; Momentum Carrying Into Olympic Campaign - https://t.co/6OXWGCxMcZ @leon_marchand pic.twitter.com/gYd42HfTBz
— Swimming World (@SwimmingWorld) January 2, 2024
At NCAA's prior to competing in Fukuoka, Marchand set program records and NCAA records in the 200 yard breast, 200 yard IM and 400 yard IM, which he took home the gold in all three of those events in Minneapolis. He also was named the Men's Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year and the CSCAA Division I Men's Swimmer of the Year for the second time in as many seasons to cap off his sophomore campaign.
Ilya Kharun- World Junior Male Swimmer of the Year (2023 Swammy Awards by Swim Swam)
Though he's just in his first year with the Sun Devils, Kharun has already made his mark on the record board as he holds the school records in both the 100 yard fly and 200 yard fly, which were set during competition at the NC State Invite in November. To end 2023, Kharun was named the World Junior Male Swimmer of the Year by SwimSwam.
A record board shakeup from this morning!
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) November 17, 2023
Ilya Kharun breaks his own record from this morning as he has now swam a sub 45.00 in the 100 fly THREE times now this season ??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/mNnhwrstum
Prior to his arrival in Tempe, Kharun set a Canadian record in the 200m fly as he finished with a time of 1:53.82 as he took fourth in the event at Worlds. During his time in Fukuoka, Kharun also competed in the 50m free and 100m fly.
Along with holding school records in the 100 yard fly and 200 yard fly, Kharun leads all Division I male swimmers in his time in the 200 fly and his 200 free relay holds the program record, which was set at the NC State Invite.