.jpg)
Nick Thierry
Nick Thierry is most well known for the incredible work he did as the men behind the records and rankings in the sport. He was the world’s foremost statistician in the sport of swimming. He created and updated the most complete database of results in the sport. Thierry is also well known for the amazing work he did as the creator and publisher of SwimNew magazine, which he created in 1972. Thierry was also a founding member of the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association.
What he is not as well-known for is his successful career in coaching. Thierry began his coaching career as an assistant with the University of Settlement Aquatic Club in 1963. He went on to develop the team into one of the best in Canada winning the men’s team titles at the 1967 and 68 National Championships as well as placing at least one swimmers on every national team from 1965 to 1972. Thierry played a large role in the selection of swimmers for Canadian Olympic teams in 1964, 1968 and 1972, and served as the head coach of the Canadian swim team for the 1970 Commonwealth Games. During his coaching career, Thierry oversaw a number of high-profile and successful swimmers including Angela Coughlan, Jim Shaw, Karen Le Gresley, Gaye Stratten, and Judy Garay. Thierry’s coaching style was heavily influenced by International Swimming Hall of Fame coaches Stefan Hunyadfi, Peter Daland and Howard Firby, the later with which Thierry became close friends, corresponding regularly and travelling to numerous international competitions together. Thierry also held several administrative positions for various Canadian swimming associations. He was the chairman and secretary for the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association (CSCA), and served on the Board of Directors for Swim Ontario and Swim Canada.
He once again retired from coaching in 1976 putting all his energy into SWIM Magazine (which eventually became SwimNews Magazine).
Links: