Jan Bidrman
Encyclopedia
Jan Bidrman is the head coach of the Calgary
Academy of Swimming Excellence and the high performance coach of Swim Alberta
. Formerly a decorated international athlete from Sweden
, Bidrman was selected to the Swedish National Swim Team for both the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, South Korea
and the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
, Spain
.
swim club. In 1988, Bidrman was selected as a member of the Swedish Olympic Team, but was unable to compete due to regulations concerning transfer of representative country. However at the age of 26, Bidrman was once again selected as a member of the Swedish Olympic Team. At the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, Bidrman participated in both the 200-meter individual medley and the 400-meter individual medley. Bidrman was disqualified in his 200-meter individual medley race, but finished 15th overall in the 400-meter individual medley. Bidrman held both the 200-meter long course individual medley and 400-meter long course individual medley national records for Sweden during his career. At one point, he held the European record for the 400-meter short course
individual medley.
Bidrman became assistant coach to Cal Bentz at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1992. He later became coach of the South Africa
n swim team, leading a seven-member team to six top eight finalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, USA. Of these members, Bidrman coached Olympic bronze medalist Marianne Kriel
in the 100-meter backstroke
.
In 1997, Bidrman was appointed as head coach for the Calgary Swim Center. Since then Bidrman has been appointed as the head coach of the Calgary Academy for Swimming Excellence which works towards an “independent vision and plan for the development of continued production of internationally competitive swimmers.” As head coach Bidrman works in conjunction with the Canadian Sport Center and the carded athletes under his direction. Bidrman also acts as the high performance coach of Swim Alberta.
Throughout his coaching career, Bidrman has been selected to the Canadian Olympic Swim Team for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
, Australia
, the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
, Greece
, and the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China
. Bidrman has also been appointed as a coach for many other international competitions, including the 1998 World Aquatics Championships
in Perth
, Australia
, the 2001 World Aquatics Championships
in Fukuoka
, Japan
, and the 2002 Commonwealth Games
in Manchester
, England
.
on the collegiate swim team. Graduating in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts
in International Business, Bidrman continued his education and received his Maters in Economics
in 1995. Bidrman was also named an Academic All-American in 1990.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
Academy of Swimming Excellence and the high performance coach of Swim Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. Formerly a decorated international athlete from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Bidrman was selected to the Swedish National Swim Team for both the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Swimming Career
Bidrman was a member of the Czechoslovakian national team from 1980 to 1985, until his arrival in Sweden where he competed for the Malmö KKMalmö KK
Malmö KK, Malmö Kappsimningsklubb, is a Swedish swim team from Malmö founded 1982 as competitive team for Malmö SS and Limhamns SS.-Swimmers:*Jan Bidrman*Daniel Carlsson *Attila Czene *Martin Gustavsson*Ida Mattsson*Stefan Persson...
swim club. In 1988, Bidrman was selected as a member of the Swedish Olympic Team, but was unable to compete due to regulations concerning transfer of representative country. However at the age of 26, Bidrman was once again selected as a member of the Swedish Olympic Team. At the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, Bidrman participated in both the 200-meter individual medley and the 400-meter individual medley. Bidrman was disqualified in his 200-meter individual medley race, but finished 15th overall in the 400-meter individual medley. Bidrman held both the 200-meter long course individual medley and 400-meter long course individual medley national records for Sweden during his career. At one point, he held the European record for the 400-meter short course
Short course
In Swimming, the term Short Course is used to identify a pool that is 25 metres in length. The term is also often included in meet names when conducted in a short course pool...
individual medley.
Coaching Career
Since his retirement as an elite swimmer, Bidrman has become an internationally acclaimed coach, coaching numerous athletes to the national and international level.Bidrman became assistant coach to Cal Bentz at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1992. He later became coach of the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n swim team, leading a seven-member team to six top eight finalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Atlanta, USA. Of these members, Bidrman coached Olympic bronze medalist Marianne Kriel
Marianne Kriel
Marianne Kriel is a former backstroke and freestyle swimmer from South Africa, who won the bronze medal in the 100 m backstroke at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia...
in the 100-meter backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
.
In 1997, Bidrman was appointed as head coach for the Calgary Swim Center. Since then Bidrman has been appointed as the head coach of the Calgary Academy for Swimming Excellence which works towards an “independent vision and plan for the development of continued production of internationally competitive swimmers.” As head coach Bidrman works in conjunction with the Canadian Sport Center and the carded athletes under his direction. Bidrman also acts as the high performance coach of Swim Alberta.
Throughout his coaching career, Bidrman has been selected to the Canadian Olympic Swim Team for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Bidrman has also been appointed as a coach for many other international competitions, including the 1998 World Aquatics Championships
1998 World Aquatics Championships
The 1998 World Aquatics Championships or the 8th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia between 8 January and 17 January 1998....
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the 2001 World Aquatics Championships
2001 World Aquatics Championships
rightThe 2001 World Aquatics Championships or the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Fukuoka, Japan between 16 July and 29 July 2001....
in Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Education
Bidrman attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he competed for the Nebraska CornhuskersNebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
on the collegiate swim team. Graduating in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in International Business, Bidrman continued his education and received his Maters in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1995. Bidrman was also named an Academic All-American in 1990.