OTTAWA - Synchro Canada is pleased to announce the hiring of Kasia Kulesza and Mariette Chen as National Team assistant coaches.
Kulesza and Chen will work alongside head coach Denise Sauve at the National Team Training Centre in Montreal, QC. Julie Sauve will continue to work as a mentor with the team.
Both new coaches bring a wealth of expertise, creativity and ingenuity and will be a wonderful addition to the program.
Chen, a native of Beijing, China, will bring an international perspective to the team. Chen has a vast bank of experience from which to draw from having competed as a swimmer and worked as a coach with the Malaysian synchronized swimming team for the past five years.
During her tenure with the Malaysian’s Chen led the team to some of its best ever international results. Chen most recently coached the Malaysian team at the 2008 Olympic Qualifying event and the 2008 World Junior Championships.
Kulesza is no stranger to Synchro Canada having been a National Team member for nine years during which time she won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games and a gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Most recently Kulesza worked as an assistant coach with the National Junior team which won a silver in solo and bronze in duet at the World Junior Championships.
“Synchro Canada is very pleased to have two talented coaches on board to support the Center and our Head Coach,” said Catherine Gosselin-Després, Synchro Canada Chief Operating Officer. “Their experience and knowledge will definitely be an asset for our National Team Program. Both individuals bring a wealth of experience having coached at numerous international events. We believe we have a great team in place to achieve podium results.
Kulesza and Chen’s first challenge will be working with Sauve to prepare the National Team for the 3rd Synchro World Trophy in Madrid, Spain Dec. 5-7, 2008.
