Synchro Canada names Meng Chen Senior National Team Head Coach
Synchro Canada names Meng Chen Senior National Team Head Coach
Ottawa, October 2, 2012 – Synchro Canada announced today that Meng Chen has been named head coach to lead the senior national team in this new era leading to the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
Meng Chen (pronounced MONG CHEN) has been on Canada’s national coaching staff since 2008. She was one of Canada’s three coaches at the 2012 Olympic Games, the 2011 Pan Am Games where Canada won two gold medals to qualify for the Olympics and the 2009 and 2011 FINA World Aquatic Championships helping Canada to two bronze medals in the combo event.
She was head coach of the Canadian Junior National Team which earned three bronze medals at the 2010 FINA World Junior Championships. Meng Chen is originally from China and represented her country in synchronized swimming as an athlete at the 2001 FINA World Aquatic Championships. Before coming to Canada, she was head coach of the Malaysian national team for four years.
She is also only one of three synchronized swimming coaches in Canada to have reached level 5 in the National Certified Coaching Program.
“Over the last few years, Meng has shown her skills to work with a team of professionals in order to pursue Synchro Canada’s goal which is to progress among the world’s elite. We believe her technical skills, her leadership, her knowledge in the science of sport and her long term vision will greatly contribute to our high performance program,” said Catherine Gosselin-Després, Synchro Canada’s CEO.
“With several 2012 Olympic team members retiring, Meng Chen will work with many young athletes who she coached on the national senior A or B teams over the last few years and with the junior team in 2009, athletes we’ll see in 2016 or 2020.”
“It’s a great honour for me to be named head coach of the senior national team for Synchro Canada which has one of the best programs in the world,” said Meng Chen. “Over the last few years, I’ve become familiar with the Canadian training system and worked with many specialists, coaches and athletes which represent the core for Canadian synchronized swimming’s future. I am confident with the help of my team of coaches and professionals, Canada will continue to improve on the international scene.”
Chen will succeed to Julie Sauvé who recently led the Canadian Synchronized Swimming Team over the past four years, including the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
“Julie Sauvé played a critical role in positioning Canada amongst the world’s best and putting us on the podium. Julie’s recent induction to the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Hall of Fame is a validation of her talent, and we thank her for her contributions to our sport”, said Catherine Gosselin-Després.
"However with a new Olympic cycle which will impact the 2016 and 2020 Games, Synchro Canada has modified its high performance structure by hiring a new team of coaches and experts who will work collectively toward our pursuit to reach the podium. With the presence as well of new athletes, this is the start of a new era on our national senior team."
Julie Sauvé showed great interest to continue her involvement in synchronized swimming and will share her expertise at all levels. "Synchro Canada wishes to emphasize the continuing passion Julie Sauvé has for synchronized swimming by her desire to contribute to the development of the sport in Canada. The Canadian community can therefore benefit from her expertise, and for Synchro Canada, this gesture is all to her credit."
About Synchro Canada
Synchro Canada is the national organization governing synchronized swimming in Canada. It represents 10 provincial associations, a territorial association, as well as some 150 clubs and 12,000 members across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing aquatic sports organization, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence by developing the athletes, citizens and ambassadors of the sport of synchronized swimming at every level.
