I want to talk about leadership. Your influence as a sports director has been far-reaching for quite some time.

 Once you have the strategy, you really have to concentrate on what culture you actually want? What is that performance culture? Make sure it revolves around values and behaviors.

Our values at Swimming Australia are :

• courage
• unity
• excellence

Courage that we have to be ambitious with what we have to do. We want to be innovative. We want to take risks. We have to take risks in high-performance. Otherwise, you're not going to get the results. They are calculated risks, and we're dealing with government funds.

Unity is about collaborating with purpose. I don't believe you just collaborate for the sake of collaboration, but it has to, has to be purposeful. 

Excellence is trying to be the best in the world. We want to be the best in the world.

The intentional decision to treat Rick like he was a typical child meant being committed to doing what needed to be done to ensure that Rick was just that. The ideals wrapped up in that commitment, hard word, perseverance, dedication, and not being limited by a disability clearly had an effect on Rick and helped him accomplish all he and his family have done to date.

This is a story of a family that chooses to see each other as human beings; they love unconditionally and are prepared to move mountains for each other. Their legacy is an idea that anything can be achieved with perseverance, dedication, and commitment.

Our conversation with Tom was walk through 45 years of swimming history in and out of his history-making career, being the only Canadian swim to date that has medaled in three consecutive Olympic Games. Tom's journey to where he is now has ebbed and flowed naturally; he talks about what he's learned, challenges that he has experienced, the joys of success and the bitterness of defeat, and how that has developed the framework of a growth mindset.

On one of your pages, you have a saying, and you seem to embody it with what you just said. It reads "Better is always better. No matter the amount, fail forwards, be brave, stay in the fight."

 What does that mean for you?  - Find out inside

Whether you're swimming laps at an indoor pool or practicing in the pool outdoors or in the open water, swim goggles are essential for seeing underwater and protecting your eyes from irritants like chlorine and saltwater. But we've all felt what it's like to swim using pairs that don't work as well as they should. How do you select the best swimming goggles? A few questions first, what type of swimmer are you?  

Do you like to swim for fun? 

Are you swimming for exercise?

Are you a competitive swimmer?

Choosing a product based on use can be important. However, it would be best if you decided based on fit. 

First, let's dispel the swim goggle suction test...it is an irrelevant test. The tension found in the material of a one-piece goggle or an adjustable noise piece creates rigidity in the goggle's horizontal flexibility that will work to retain its shape. You need to put the straps on and feel the gaskets fit when you are wearing it.

Watching their commitment through the years of tough losing seasons, winning seasons, and being so close so often has always been inspiring. It displays a level of commitment that I deeply respect and find honorable. A commitment to a goal, ideal & principles. How is this connected to current events? Shortly after the 2020 Superbowl, lockdown measures were put into place; the months following proved difficult for so many people and disastrous for some businesses. Lockdown, what did that mean? It meant that there was an invisible threat that we were learning about as researchers and doctors themselves learned more about; it was a fluid situation. I recall the speed at which everyday life moved from ordinary to something unknown for most of us; 

it was minutes. 

We spoke with Sean Baker of the Markham Aquatic Club. Sean has been a pillar of the Canadian swimming community for the past 30 plus years. He's had the opportunity to coach from coast to coast and has always strived to make swimming better in his community. He is unapologetic about winning, his desire to win, and his performance expectation so long as it's done in the right way. He's a proponent for athletic development and is a master of team building.

We spoke with Kris Hildebrand from the Exceleration triathlon club in Vancouver, BC. Kris is an experienced coach with 32 years on deck in both swimming and triathlon. He's been at the Exceleration triathlon club for the last 14 years. And today, we're here to talk to him about his philosophy behind why he does what he does and his program.  Kris shares his philosophy on training, his view of sport and its place in society, and what makes the Exceraltion Triathlon club what it is. You can find the Exceleration Triathlon club and Kris at https://www.excelerationtriclub.ca/  

The semi-finals of the International Swimming League wrapped up today, laying the path forward to the finals on November 21 & 22, 2020. Energy Standard, London Roar, Cali Condors & LA Current will compete for the ultimate title in the professional swimming world - The ISL Championship.

The team reigns & individuals strive for wins in a challenging format. Watching world and country records get broken and having teams rally together for relay team wins and jackpot points make this league just so exciting.

With match ten wrapped up after four weeks, the stage is set for the International Swimming League's semi-final.  

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing people and organizations' power to transform their communities and the world. We have all become accustomed to the outrageous Black Friday scenes of people getting trampled to secure the latest and hottest toy out just in time to start the holiday buying season. It seems to draw out the worst in people, and there is no virtue in a gift that comes at the expense of someone else's well being, nor is a disposable item worth the hype.

It is a reinvention of the sport of swimming. It brings an evolution to the sport of swimming, pulling it into current times. It is a professional league that showcases the talent and ability of so many high ranking athletes. These athletes seldom have the opportunity to achieve the notoriety or benefit from the exposure that the ISL provides.

The Missile goggle is a go-to product for so many because of its versatility. Imagine a cross between an old Swedish swim goggle and a traditional medium profile training and racing swim goggle, and that is the Missile. Its inner orbital eye fit and four adjustable nose pieces put the goggle in the swimmer's eye socket; the soft silicone gaskets & the adjustable nose pieces allow a narrow or wide fit depending on the size of the swimmer. The bonus is the quality of the anti-fog and how long it lasts.

You can read more on the Missile swim goggle here

We all know...anecdotally that physical activity has a positive effect on mental health and our physical health. The research and evidence show, "Regular physical activity comprised of cardiovascular and resistance exercise has many mental health benefits. The longer you stick with your exercise schedule, and the more often you exercise, the more benefits you'll see. For example, research shows that regular physical activity can help with anxiety, stress, cognitive performance, and mood".

There are so many organizations big and small across Canada that provide programs for people of all ages. We have compiled information for swimming, triathlon and multisport programs below. 

The Missile goggle is the go-to goggle for so many swimmers worldwide - from youngsters up to those taking charge at the Olympic games. Why? Because the goggle works. Its inner orbital eye fit sits in the eye socket, creating a personal fit for so many & the adjustable nose pieces allow fitting on small and larger faces. As with all Vorgee products, the anti-fog is long-lasting.  Click read more & lets go through the features and highlight what you get with your purchase.

The perfect combination of products to care for your body, hair and swimwear in an eco-concious way.

The Vorgee Aqua Range features three components: A body wash, a hair rinse and bathing suit wash that the Aussie's like to call a "Tog" wash.