Supporting Canadian SwimmersIn 1994, a National Training Center was established at the University of Calgary. This enabled a blending of great facilities, access to athlete support, and the ability to maintain world class coaching. The results of this partnership resulted in some amazing achievements, the highlights as follows:
Placing 29 swimmers on 7 Olympic Teams since 1980, meaning we have sent swimmers to each and every summer Olympics since the club was formed in 1979. Our swimmers have won 11 Olympic medals. We have placed 8 swimmers on five Paralympic Teams since 1980. Other achievements include:
• 2003 Canadian Record 100 m Breaststroke sc – Lauren Van Oosten
• 2003 Canadian Record 11/12 boys 200 m Breaststroke lc – Curtis Lutsch
• 2003 Canadian Record 11/12 boys 200 m IM lc – Curtis Lutsch
• 2004 CIS Varsity Women’s Coach of the Year – Mike Blondal
• 2004 CIS Male Athlete of the Year – Chad Murray
• 2004 CIS Female Swimmer of the Year – Erin Gammel
• 2005 Canadian Club Nationals Champions for Men, Women and Combined
• 2005 Swim Alberta 14 and under Male Swimmer – Curtis Lutsch
• 2005 Swim Alberta 14 and under Female Swimmer – Jessie Olson-Heisler
• 2005 FINA World Championships silver medal in 200 m breaststroke and 4 x 100 medley relay – Mike Brown
• 2005 FINA World Championships Trials Erin Gammel – first Canadian woman under 1:02.00 in 100 m backstroke
• 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold 200 M Breaststroke – Mike Brown
• 2006 Commonwealth Games Bronze 400 Medley Relay Team – Lauren Van Oosten
• 2006 Summer Nationals Men’s National Champions
In 2006, without warning and despite the outstanding record of achievement, this successful training center was taken from Alberta and given to British Columbia. Along with this went the funding not only for our athletes, but for our world class coaching and support staff (including nutritionists, physiotherapists, sport psychologists, etc.). In order to maintain and support the athletes and staff committed to the success of this program, the foundation was established to raise the necessary funding to carry on the legacy of great swimmers that had come out of this program. This type of endeavor is a first in Canadian Swimming, as no other private club, or University Swimming Program, has undertaken something of this magnitude.
The Beijing Olympics are in 2008, literally months away, and we are looking to have a strong showing with an opportunity to bring medals home to Calgary. However, without the necessary resources and funds, this will become an extremely difficult proposition.