TORONTO - The Canadian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association inducted three members to its Hall of Fame in Toronto as part of the 2016 Canadian Swimming Congress.
Clifford Barry, Dr. Jeno Tihanyi and Paul Meronen were inducted into Hall of Fame, entering together as the coaches of Canada’s 1984 Olympic gold medallists. Barry, Tihanyi and Meronen join Deryk Snelling, Howard Firby and Nick Thierry as members of the Hall of Fame.
“The CSCTA is proud to recognize three more amazing coaches with their induction to the CSCTA Hall of Fame,” said CSCTA Executive Director Chris Hindmarch-Watson. “Coaches Tihanyi, Barry and Meronen all led their athletes to Olympic gold in 1984 and it was special to recognize them all together.”
Barry was not a competitive swimmer, but a two-time Olympic water polo player for Canada at the 1972 & 1976 Games. He was a standout on the team for many years, learning the importance of team discipline and quality training. He was known as a no-nonsense but sensitive coach. Barry coached the late Victor Davis, who at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games won a gold medal in the 200-m breaststroke.
Tihanyi, who was inducted posthumously, began coaching Alex Baumann when this prodigy was only nine years old. Baumann is arguably the greatest Canadian swimmer of all time, winning two gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles by shattering two world and Olympic records in the 400-m and 200-m individual medley. From 1981 to 1986, Baumann held 17 world records. Dr. Tihanyi’s career in coaching spanned more than 30 years, fourteen of which were with Baumann.
Meronen was Anne Ottenbrite’s coach during Los Angeles 1984. Ottenbrite brought home a gold medal in the 200-m breaststroke during those Games with Meronen as her coach.
Each recipient received a personalized giclee print by Canadian artist Mark Farand. The CSCTA commissioned Farrand in 2014 to create a unique piece to recognize Hall of Fame inductees.