Three Inducted Into Canadian Swimming Coaches’ Hall of Fame

Left: Coach Clifford Barry with swimmers Mike West and Victor Davis Upper right: Coach Paul Meronen and Anne Ottenbrite Lower right: Coach Jeno Tihanyi

During the 2016 Canadian Swimming Congress, the Canadian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association (CSCTA) inducted Clifford Barry, Paul Meronen and the late Dr. Jeno Tihanyi into its Hall of Fame.

Barry never swam competitively but played water polo for Canada in two Olympic Games, in 1972 and 1976. And just eight years after his final Olympic experience in the water polo pool, he coached the late Victor Davis to Olympic gold in the men’s 200 breast.

Clifford Barry; Photo Courtesy: Swimming Canada

Meronen coached the other gold medalist in the 200 breast in 1984, guiding Anne Ottenbrite during the LA Games.

Paul Meronen; Photo Courtesy: Anne Ottenbrite

Tihanyi received a posthumous induction for his work with Alex Baumann, who won gold in both the 200 and 400 IM at the 1984 Games, both in world record-time. Tihanyi coached Baumann for 14 years and helped the all-time great break 17 world records.

Canada's Alex Baumann (left) and his coach Jeno Tehanyi at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles. (CP PHOTO/ COA/Ted Grant ) Alex Baumann et l'entraîneur Jeno Tehanyi du Canada participent aux compétitions de natation aux Jeux olympiques de Los Angeles de 1984. (PC Photo/AOC)

Jeno Tehanyi; Photo Courtesy: Ted Grant

“The CSCTA is proud to recognize three more amazing coaches with their induction to the CSCTA Hall of Fame,” CSCTA Executive Director Chris Hindmarch-Watson said in a release. “Coaches Tihanyi, Barry and Meronen all led their athletes to Olympic gold in 1984 and it was special to recognize them all together.”

Other members of CSCTA’s Hall of Fame include Deryk Snelling, Howard Firby and Nick Thierry. New inductees each received a personalized giclee print by Canadian artist Mark Farand.

Read more from the CSCTA here.

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Neil Harvey

7 years ago

I spent my early coaching years with each of these three great coaches. They taught me much of the art and soul of what it is to be a coach.

Mary C. Lyne

7 years ago

i was coached by Paul Meronen when Etobicoke still trained out of Montgomery Pool – Paul was a regular at the Country Style coffee shop on Dundas. That’s back in the mid-70’s!

Robert P

7 years ago

What a great trio of inductees.
Swimming under Clifford for a couple of years in the late 80s at PCSC changed my swimming for the better; I might not have stayed with it as long as I did without his influence.