University of Toronto Launches High Performance Swimming Centre, Hires John Rodgers

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada, July 2. THE training environment for Canada's top swimmers receives a huge boost today, as the University of Toronto confirms the establishment of a High Performance Swimming Centre led by world-class swim coach John Rodgers of Australia.

Made possible by a partnership with Swimming Canada, Swim Ontario, the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario (CSCO) and the University, the new centre creates a resident training program for high performance athletes, with dedicated leadership by Rodgers, training time in U of T's Olympic pool and a suite of services offered through CSCO.

Rodgers has been the head coach of the Albany Creek Swim Club in Brisbane, Australia, since 1999 and as led several swimmers to the Olympic podium over the past 25 years. Most recently, he coached Kylie Palmer and Bronte Barratt to a gold medal and world record performance in the women's 4x200m freestyle at the 2008 Olympic Games. He was also instrumental in Leith Brodie's bronze medal performance in the 4x200m freestyle in Beijing.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for the University of Toronto and for university sport in Canada," says Byron MacDonald, head coach of U of T's Varsity Blues swim program, which boasts more national and conference titles than any university program in the country. "John brings a proven track record of elite international performance to our already very successful varsity program, and we're thrilled to work with him as we advance the University's mandate to strengthen high performance sport here in Ontario."

Throughout his coaching career in Australia, Rodgers has produced eight Olympic medals, 17 Commonwealth Games medals and one World Championships medal. He was also part of the coaching staff at the Australian Institute of Sports from 1982 to 1986.

Rodgers' role will be to oversee the high performance program at U of T's newly-created swimming centre, as well as to provide assistance to MacDonald for the Varsity swim program.

"The addition of a world-class coach to the Canadian swimming scene is huge," says Pierre Lafontaine, chief executive officer of Swimming Canada. "Coaches of John's calibre infuse the training environment with a new level of intensity, stimulating athletes to perform like never before. Under John's leadership, this new swimming centre will also take university sport to new heights, which is crucial to the success of high performance swimming in Canada."

In addition to two national swim centres in Montreal and Vancouver, and the two recently-established swim academies in Victoria and Calgary, the University of Toronto High Performance Swimming Centre is the result of Swimming Canada's high performance strategy for 2012 in collaboration with Own the Podium. The focus is on servicing the country's top athletes at every level in their quest for podium status on the international stage.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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