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Congratulatory acknowledgement from Wayne Lomas

Wayne Lomas, Swimming Canada Associate High Performance Director and National Para Coach, 2019 WPS Championships swimmers and coaches acknowledgement

As the 2019 WPS Swimming Championships close, and our attention turns to Canadian Team Trials and Tokyo 2020, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the work of our coaches and expert staff on the team who facilitated the environment for our Canadian swimmers to perform.

Firstly, congratulations to the swimmers and coaches who return from London with World Championship medals:

Aurélie Rivard             Coached by Mike Thompson at CHP-Que

Gold – Women’s 50m FR S10, 100m FR S10

Silver – Women’s 400m FR S10

Bronze – Women’s 100m BK S10, Women’s 34pt 4x100m F.R.

Winner – Outstanding Performance of the Championship Coaches Award

James Leroux             Coached by Mike Thompson at CHP-Que

Silver – Men’s 100m BR SB9

Tess Routliffe             Coached by Mike Thompson at CHP-Que

Silver – Women’s 100m BR SB7
Bronze – Women’s 200m IM SM7, Women’s 34pt 4x100m F.R.

Shelby Newkirk          Coached by Eric Kramer at Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club

Silver – Women’s 100m BK S7

Katarina Roxon           Coached by Leonard Roxon at Aqua Aces Swim Club

Silver – Women’s 100m BR SB8

Bronze – Women’s 34pt 4x100m F.R.

Nicolas-Guy Turbide   Coached by Marc-André Pelletier at Club de Natation Région de Québec

Silver – Men’s 100m BK S13

Aly Van Wyck-Smart Coached by Ryan Jones at Variety Village Aquatic Club

Silver – Women’s 100m BK S2

Bronze – Women’s 50m BK S2

Alex Elliott                  Coached by Nicholas Perron at Rouge et Or de l’Université Laval

Bronze – Men’s 400m FR S10

Abi Tripp                     Coached by Vicki Keith at Kingston Y Penguins Aquatic Club

Bronze – Women’s 34pt 4x100m F.R.

Our team environment and the culture in the team remained positive from the morning after selection until the day of departure from London. This positive, supportive and performing environment contributed to a culture of success and was the result of a shared commitment by swimmers, coaches, and expert support staff to achieving that.

In our final team meeting at the start of these championships, I said to the team that our success would be judged by our ability to stay calm, remain professional, focus on process and record lifetime bests (PB’s) on the day that matters. The team has certainly delivered on that. We put an emphasis on being better at the international event than Trials, and for our team, that goal was achieved this week.

Sixteen members of our team return from London with at least one swim faster than Trials, which is a great achievement by swimmers, coaches and support teams.

Of the 61 events contested by Canadians, 52 per cent were faster than Trials, 61 per cent resulted in an improved world ranking and 20 per cent were lifetime bests (PB’s).

Throughout the entire preparation and competition, our swimmers, coaches and expert staff went about their business with professionalism and pride, two of the qualities that we look for.

Our entire coaching staff in Vichy and London, led by Swimming Canada Senior Coach, Paralympic Program, Vince Mikuska, instilled and upheld the culture we seek.

I’d like to acknowledge, congratulate and thank our coaching staff of:

Mike Thompson, CHP-Que, Vicki Keith, Kingston Y Penguins, Eric Kramer Saskatoon Lasers,

Janet Dunn, Swimming Canada, Mike Edey, CHP-Que, and CSCTA Apprentice Coach, Ian Roopnarine of Cobra Swim Club. Every coach played a key role, made positive performance impacts and worked both independently and as part of the team.

Our integrated support team staff, led by Myriam Paquette of Institut national du sport du Québec, and team management, led by Emma Van Steen, worked tirelessly and professionally through the whole tour.

With less than a year until the first swim of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, every swimmer and coach now has a much clearer view about what they need to focus on in order to achieve their Paralympic dreams. As a team, we have valued the opportunity to work closely together, race amongst the best swimmers in the world, and put into action what we have practised.

For us, the journey to Tokyo has begun, and London has provided a fantastic opportunity to learn, to grow and to perform.