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Swimming Canada welcomes Head to Head as Official Supporter

Swimming Canada is pleased to announce that Head to Head, the Olympian-led mentorship program founded by former national team member Martha McCabe, is partnering with the organization as an Official Supporter.

McCabe, a world championship medallist and two-time Olympian, founded the organization in 2016. Head to Head’s mission is to promote mental resilience and physical wellness through Olympian-led mentorship programs that teach healthy habits and inspire confidence.

“Head to Head is a wonderful program inspired by Olympian Martha McCabe,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi. “It connects Olympians to our grassroots community in fun, interactive and educational sessions. Children from all across Canada will get the opportunity to meet Canadian sports stars. Swimming Canada fully supports this program and we look forward to its growth.”

The social enterprise supports active and retired Olympians in their life beyond the pool, while helping to provide the next generation of athletes with an opportunity to learn tips and tricks that these Olympians used to reach the pinnacle of sport. It has grown to include more than 30 Olympian mentors across several sports, with more than 15 mentorship sessions monthly in more than 60 communities across six provinces.

“Kids today are facing so many new challenges and pressures and, if given the right tools, they can better manage these. Olympians who have been under extreme pressure and faced disappointment are able to share their stories and tools with the next generation, to help them be more resilient and successful,” McCabe says.

The partnership officially kicks off Sunday, with world championship medallist and Olympian Yuri Kisil delivering a sold-out Head to Head workshop in Toronto. Kisil has learned from facing injury, illness, plateaus and many other challenges in his career, and will share his knowledge with a group of young swimmers. The clinic includes a pool session on turns, breakouts, sprinting and stroke rate, as well as a class session including managing pre-competition nerves and competition strategies.

The next Olympic swimmer clinic is coming up May 19 with Olympic finalist Rachel Nicol in Calgary. Register here.

For information on future swim clinics, including summer clinic series in Ottawa and Toronto, visit: http://www.headtohead.ca/clinics