Mike Thompson Hired as First Paraswimming Head Coach in Canada

Swimming Canada is proud to announce Mike Thompson as the first head coach of its new Para-swimming Intensive Training Program – Quebec.

Thompson will take on the new role immediately, making the move from his position as head coach for Region of Waterloo Swim Club and Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. A primary focus of this position will be the identification and development of targeted high performance athletes and progression of their performances to an international podium standard.

“I am extremely excited to be heading a program that will focus on true high performance in Para-swimming,” said Thompson. “Montreal is a great city and I am looking forward to taking on this challenge.”

Based at the renovated Olympic pool and Institut National du Sport du Quebec, Thompson will take an important leadership role in the Para-swimming program. His duties will include on-deck coaching and annual plans and budgets. He will work with INS-Q to develop integrated support team programs and also in collaboration with the Université de Montréal.

Thompson’s Para-swimming experience extends back 13 years, when he worked with two-time Paralympic gold medallist Adam Purdy in a previous role at Wilfrid Laurier University. Earlier this month he served on the coaching staff at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow. His swimmer, Alec Elliot, made five finals in Glasgow, most among men on the team.

“It is great to have appointed Mike to coach at the Para-swimming Intensive Training Program – Quebec,” said Swimming Canada High Performance Director John Atkinson. “This appointment will enhance the daily training environment for Para-swimming in Canada and the program will work collaboratively with the existing Olympic Intensive Training Program and coach Tom Rushton.”

“This is a great step forward for the Para-swimming program in Quebec and in Canada. The focus on our Next Generation and current high performance swimmers will allow us to better prepare both our athletes and coaches,” added James Hood, Swimming Canada’s senior manager of high performance programs for Para-swimming.

“It is thanks to our partners with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Fédération de natation du Québec, Institut National de Sport – Quebec and Université de Montréal that this position has been made possible.”

Thompson’s track record also includes five years as head coach for the Halton Hills Blue Fins, where he helped increased membership by 50 per cent by providing a focused annual training and competition model as well as a long term growth and sustainability plan. He also spent two years at the Oakville Aquatic Club and was selected to the Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative Coach Accelerator Program.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworld.com.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use