Olympic Medalist Lori Melien Joins Swimming Canada

OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada, November 14. SWIMMING Canada is pleased to announce that Olympic Swimming Medalist Lori Melien joins the National Office as Junior Teams Coordinator.

"We are pleased to welcome Lori to the Swimming Canada family," said Pierre Lafontaine, CEO and National Coach. "Lori's National Team and corporate experiences will be a great add on to the organization's services to its next wave of Olympians."

Aside from coordinating the National Youth and Junior Team outfitting, travel and logistics, Lori will manage the National records program.

"I am thrilled to be able to join Swimming Canada in this position, and give back to the sport that has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember! It will be very exciting to see the youth of Canadian Swimming continue to break on to the International scene. I am excited to join the Swimming Canada team in helping our athletes, their coaches and parents prepare for all the great experiences that will come by doing so."

Lori's introduction to the swimming scene began at the age of 9, with the COBRA swim club. With a family relocation, she joined the Ajax Aquatic Club where she moved up the ranks to the Youth National team at the age of 12 then onto the Senior National team at the age of 13.

Her career included the Pan Pacific Championships (85/87/89), World Championships (86), Olympic Games (88), Commonwealth Games (90), World Universiade Games (93). She competed for the University of Calgary Varsity team for 5 years, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation.

Upon retirement from in the pool, she decided to take up coaching while also working in her field of study and begin a family. She coached both summer and winter club swimming in Calgary for 3 years (UCSC), while working for the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre and as a personal aide for a child with Autism.

She then moved south to coach with the LA Swim Club and University of Lethbridge Pronghorn Swim Team for 5 years. The tail end of her coaching career included a year with Island Swimming in Victoria and a year with the Ravens of Carleton Swimming in Ottawa, where 2 of her 3 daughters are hitting the pool themselves!

Special thanks to Swimming Canada for contributing this report.

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