A quintet of coaches from Swimming Canada’s Paralympic program were honoured last month during the virtual 2020 edition of the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards Gala.

Hosted by the Coaching Association of Canada in partnership with Petro-Canada, the annual gala honours coaches who exemplify the values and competencies of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and their positive impact within the sport sector in Canada.

Mike Thompson, Éric Kramer, Marc-André Pelletier, Nicholas Perron and Leonard Roxon all merited the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award, recognizing their contribution to podium performances at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London.

For Wayne Lomas, Swimming Canada’s Associate Director of High Performance and Para Swimming National Coach, these awards are a testament to the importance of exceptional coach-athlete partnerships.

“Coaches are the foundation for our sport, and excellent partnerships between coaches and swimmers, each with talent, desire and commitment to excellence, always reap rewards,” said Lomas. “Mike, Marc-André, Éric, Nicholas and Leonard, along with their swimmers, all performed so very well in 2019 and have been appropriately recognized by Coaching Association of Canada.

“I’d like to pass on my congratulations to each of the recipients on their achievements last year, as well as to all coaches who work tirelessly in supporting athletes to be the best they can be. And, moreover, on their exceptional leadership and guidance this year as we all navigate our way through such uncertainty.”

Thompson, head coach at Montreal’s High Performance Centre – Quebec, saw three of his swimmers reach the podium at London 2019, including a five-medal haul by Aurélie Rivard (2-1-2), one silver and two bronzes for Tess Routliffe, as well as a second-place finish by James Leroux in the men’s 100-m breaststroke SB9.

He had previously earned the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award in 2016 for Benoît Huot’s bronze-medal performance at the Rio Paralympic Games.

“It was pretty cool then, and now to win this time for medals from Aurélie, Tess and James is pretty awesome. We had a great world championships,” said Thompson. “Obviously I couldn’t do this without the performances of some pretty great athletes. I think a lot of credit this time can also go to my assistant coach Mike Edey and our integrated support team staff for helping us prepare as well as we did for London.

“I believe that my group of athletes is hungrier, fitter and better ready to race than ever before. As great at the results were at world championships in 2019, nothing stops there. We need to be faster and better for Tokyo.”

Kramer, from the Saskatoon Lasers Swim Club, was honoured for Shelby Newkirk’s silver-medal swim in the women’s 100-m backstroke S7 at worlds.

“I’m very proud of Shelby for her performance, because she had to face a lot of challenges with the world championships. She truly has the heart of a champion.

“It’s nice to be recognized and it’s great for the sport of Para swimming here in Saskatchewan. Our province is small and very large at the same time. The more we honour our champions, the more we will see our athletes reach world levels.”

Pelletier, from Club de Natation Région de Québec, and Roxon, from Aqua Aces Swim Club in Stephenville, N.L., were also honoured for their work with 2019 worlds silver medallists, Nicolas-Guy Turbide in the men’s 100-m backstroke S13 and Katarina Roxon in the women’s 100-m breaststroke SB8.

“To me, coaching has always been about the swimmer. I firmly believe that coaches are just guides to help athletes achieve their dreams and make a difference in their lives,” said Leonard Roxon, who had previously won the award in 2016 after his daughter captured gold in the 100-m breast in Rio. “I’m truly honoured and humbled to be given this award once again and to be recognized for the work done with Katarina over the years. We all know it takes numerous people like family, IST, teammates, mentors, friends, funding supports, national team staff and fans who all contribute to producing a champion.”

Perron, who was head coach of Club de natation Rouge et Or in Quebec City until the fall of 2019, saw Alec Elliot claim bronze in the men’s 400-m free S10 in London.

“It’s always rewarding for a coach to receive a ‘pat on the back’,” said Perron. “I’m very proud to have accompanied Alec in his quest for excellence.”