From Swimming Canada

Ottawa, ON – Swimming Canada is proud to announce the appointment of Ken McKinnon as National Junior Coach. In his new role, Ken will be responsible for the implementation of Swimming Canada`s National Team Development programs.

“We are incredibly pleased to welcome Ken as part of the Swimming Canada personnel,” said CEO and National Coach of Swimming Canada, Pierre Lafontaine. “As we aim for great performances at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, Ken will be a tremendous asset to the development of our Junior Team program while working with the personnel coaches and swimmers as they progress to the Senior National team.” Through-out his extensive coaching career, Ken has consistently developed competitive international swimmers and has provided valuable mentorship to many of our top coaches.”

The National Junior Coach will be responsible for developing and implementing programs that identify and educate Canada’s developmental swimmers and coaches.

His key responsibilities will be geared towards the enhancement and implementation of competition, coaching and enhanced training strategies for developmental swimmers aged 18 and under. The focus of his position is to enable the development of a continuum of athletes, able to gain selection to the Senior National Team with all attributes and skills required to successfully represent Canada on the International stage.

“I’m very excited to take on the role of National Junior Coach for Swimming Canada,” said Ken McKinnon. “It’s an exciting time for Canadian Swimming and I’m very eager on helping our Coaches and young athletes as they reach for the Podium in 2012 and beyond.”

McKinnon’s coaching career began in the early 70’s as Head Coach of the Beaurepaire Swim Club in Montreal. He later joined Pointe Claire Swim Club as an Age group coach then quickly climbed the ropes to the Head Coach position. In 1984, McKinnon was hired on as Head Coach of the CAMO swim club where he coached for eight seasons. In ninety-one, McKinnon moved to Kamloops to join the Kamloops Classic Swimming as Head Coach then moved to the Bahamas to coach for the Barracuda Swim Club between 2003 and 2005. Two years after, Ken returned to Canada to take on the Head Coach position of the Richmond Rapids Swim Club. In 2006, Ken was hired by Swim BC as their Provincial Coach.

“We’re grateful to Swim BC for the leadership they have embarked on with their Provincial Team program. We know that having Ken transition from Provincial to National Junior Coaching responsibilities will improve the level of swimming across the country” remarked Lafontaine.

Throughout his coaching career, McKinnon coached 8 swimmers to an Olympic Team, 4 to a World Championships, 3 to Commonwealth and 4 to a Pan-American Games. He also coached Julie Daigneault and Anne Jardin to seven National record setting performances. Over three decades, McKinnon has represented Canada as part of over 15 Canadian National Teams.

Quick Facts: International Coaching History

2008 North American Challenge Cup
2006 US Open
2005 FINA World LC Championships
1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
1999 Pan American Games
1999 FINA World SC Championships
1987 8 Nations International Youth Meet
1985 Pacific Swimming Championships
1985 FISU World Student Games
1984 Australia-New Zealand Tour
1983 Pan American Games
1983 Canada-GB-USSR Tri-Meet
1982 British Commonwealth Games
1981 Canada-USSR-West Germany Tri-Meet
1980 USA International Invitational
1979 Canada-USSR-West Germany Tri-Meet