Dave Johnson (swim coach)
Encyclopedia
Dave Johnson is the former head coach for Swimming Canada, serving in that capacity from 1993 to 2004. His twin brother Tom is currently a coach for Swim Canada. Dave Johnson is currently the head coach of the Cascade Swim Club in Calgary.
Johnson became head coach in 1988 after Don Talbot
was dismissed by the Canadian Olympic Committee
. Johnson oversaw the coaching of the national swim program for three Olympic Games: Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004).
Following the Athens Games, Mark Tewksbury
suggested there was a lack of accountability at Swimming Canada, and that Johnson was given too much power, http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012643http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Athletics/Games/2004/Swimming/2004/08/22/597394.html noting that Canada's success in the pool during the 1980s and early 1990s was due to regional swim clubs rather than the national swim centres that were in place in 2004.
Shortly after the Athens Olympics, Swimming Canada president Rob Colburn dismissed Johnson. Johnson said that his firing represented "a knee-jerk reaction" to a problem that has been coming for quite some time.http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/09/07/johnson040906.html
Johnson was succeeded by Pierre Lafontaine, a former Talbot protege, and Team Canada turned in improved results at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
.
The appointment was criticized by the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association, as Nolden was not selected on pre-determined criteria and results.
Nolden responded saying "I'm sorry it [the mudslinging] is out there. It casts a shadow on a really great thing". "Dave Johnson is extremely professional, as am I. You don't make an appointment to an Olympic team and risk the performance of the team." Johnson defended it as an affirmative-action move, as federal government funding agency Sport Canada was pushing national sport bodies to have females make up 30-percent of coaching ranks by 2004, and described Nolden as a "trailblazer personality".
http://www.caaws.ca/olympics/2000/equity/equity.htmhttp://www.caaws.ca/olympics/2000/swimming/coach_jul27.htmhttp://www.caaws.ca/olympics/2000/swimming/swimming_jun10.htmhttp://www.canoe.ca/2000GamesColumnists/gross_aug12.html
Johnson became head coach in 1988 after Don Talbot
Don Talbot
Don Talbot OBE is an Olympic swimming coach from Australia. He has coached national teams for Canada and Australia.-Canada:Since the 1950s Talbot has coached Olympic champions and World Record holders for a thirty year period...
was dismissed by the Canadian Olympic Committee
Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Committee - COC is the private, non-profit organization representing Canadian athletes in the International Olympic Committee and the Pan American Games. It was formally recognized by the IOC in 1907. The COC also represents the selection of Canadian cities in their bid for...
. Johnson oversaw the coaching of the national swim program for three Olympic Games: Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004).
Following the Athens Games, Mark Tewksbury
Mark Tewksbury
Mark Tewksbury, MSM is a Canadian former swimmer. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 100 metres backstroke at the 1992 Summer Olympics...
suggested there was a lack of accountability at Swimming Canada, and that Johnson was given too much power, http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012643http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Athletics/Games/2004/Swimming/2004/08/22/597394.html noting that Canada's success in the pool during the 1980s and early 1990s was due to regional swim clubs rather than the national swim centres that were in place in 2004.
Shortly after the Athens Olympics, Swimming Canada president Rob Colburn dismissed Johnson. Johnson said that his firing represented "a knee-jerk reaction" to a problem that has been coming for quite some time.http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/09/07/johnson040906.html
Johnson was succeeded by Pierre Lafontaine, a former Talbot protege, and Team Canada turned in improved results at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
2005 World Aquatics Championships
The 2005 World Aquatics Championships or the XI FINA World Championships were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 16 to July 31, 2005...
.
Appointment of Canada's first female Olympic swim coach
Johnson appointed Shauna Nolden as Canada's first female Olympic swim coach on June 4, 2000.The appointment was criticized by the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association, as Nolden was not selected on pre-determined criteria and results.
Nolden responded saying "I'm sorry it [the mudslinging] is out there. It casts a shadow on a really great thing". "Dave Johnson is extremely professional, as am I. You don't make an appointment to an Olympic team and risk the performance of the team." Johnson defended it as an affirmative-action move, as federal government funding agency Sport Canada was pushing national sport bodies to have females make up 30-percent of coaching ranks by 2004, and described Nolden as a "trailblazer personality".
http://www.caaws.ca/olympics/2000/equity/equity.htmhttp://www.caaws.ca/olympics/2000/swimming/coach_jul27.htmhttp://www.caaws.ca/olympics/2000/swimming/swimming_jun10.htmhttp://www.canoe.ca/2000GamesColumnists/gross_aug12.html