2017 World Clinic Audio | The Resurgence of Canadian Swimming | John Atkinson 

John Atkinson, Canadian High Performance Director, discussed the strategic improvements in Canadian swimming over the past four and a half years. He highlighted the reduction of high-performance centers from five to three, focusing on Olympic and Paralympic programs. Atkinson emphasized targeted investments in athletes, particularly in the women's 4x200 freestyle relay, which improved from 11th at the 2015 World Championships to winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics. He also stressed the importance of a systematic approach, including defining high performance, changing competition schedules, and improving coaching and athlete support. The strategy led to Canada's best performance at the 2016 Olympics, with six medals, and aims to continue this success through targeted investments and improved planning.