Being inducted in the Coach Category are Edward “Ted” Thomas, a two-time Olympic coach who dedicated his life to developing swimming in Alberta, and Jan Bidrman, who both competed and coached at the Olympics and guided Curtis Myden to a bronze medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The inaugural inductee into the Community Category is Virgina “Ginny” Smith who spent 43 years as a volunteer coach at the Yarmouth Y Whitecaps Swim Team in Yarmouth, N.S.
“This year we will celebrate the remarkable achievements of Jan Bidrman, Ted Thomas, and Ginny Smith, whose exceptional contributions have left an indelible mark on the CSCA community,” said CSCA President Lance Cansdale. “Their dedication, innovation, and leadership embody the very spirit of excellence that the CSCA Hall of Fame represents. We are honoured to induct them into the CSCA Hall of Fame as the class of 2024."
Edward “Ted” Thomas:
Thomas volunteered for over 25 years developing athletes and coaches in Alberta. While working first with the Calgary Sharkettes, then the Killarney Swim Club in Calgary and the Jasper Place Swim Club in Edmonton, he inspired many young swimmers. He was part of the coaching staff at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and 1972 Munich Olympics. He also coached at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, and was part of the Canadian team that went to China in 1974.
Thomas served as president of the Alberta Coaches Council and the Canadian Swim Coaches Association.
Born in Taber, Alta., Thomas was the eldest of six children who he took the responsibility of nurturing when his mother died. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy, served in World War II and had a long career with Alberta Government Telephones before retiring in 1982.
In 2008 Swim Alberta honoured Thomas with an Honorary Life Time Member Award for his contribution and achievement in sport. He was inducted in the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Thomas passed away March 18, 2013, at the age of 93.
Jan Bidrman:
Born in Czechoslovakia, Bidrman swam for Sweden at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics finishing 15th in the 400-metre individual medley. After retiring as an athlete, he spent time as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and coached the South African team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics where Penny Heynes won two gold medals and set a world record.
Bidrman was appointed head coach for the Calgary Swim Center in 1997 and later head coach of the Calgary Academy for Swimming Excellence.
He was part of Canada’s Olympic coaching staff at four Olympics between 2000 and 2012. Besides Myden, Bidrman also coached international medallists like Rick Say, Mike Brown, Joanne Malar, Chris Renaud, Shamek Pietucha, Adam Sioui, Erica Morningstar and many others.
“Coaching swimming for over 30 years, I really cherish the opportunity to be a part of Canadian swimming that not only brought me and my family to Canada, but also enabled me to be a part of high- performance Canadian swimming,” said Bidrman.
“Working with some of the best swimmers while coaching at the Calgary National Swimming Centre and representing Canada at all the major international meets gave me a tremendous feeling of fulfilment and accomplishment. I feel proud, honoured and humbled being recognized by the CSCA for my contribution to Canadian swimming and thus be placed alongside some iconic Canadian coaches. I am so thankful for that.”
Bidrman said the bond he has formed with his swimmers over the years is what he remembers most.
“I cherish and reminisce on the journey, the dedication and working together with the swimmers towards their dreams,” he said.
Virginia “Ginny” Smith:
Smith was a volunteer coach at the Yarmouth Y from 1973 to 2016. She has been instructor at national swim conferences, developed the Nova Scotia Swim Coaches Association, and has been a head coach of the Nova Scotia Canada Games swim team.
Many of the swimmers Smith has coached have gone on to swim at the university, national or international levels. She also developed many documents on woman and swimming which continued to be used at the national level.
She was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
For Smith, being inducted into the CSCA Hall of Fame is an acknowledgment for all volunteer coaches.
“This means that Canadian Swim Coaches Association appreciate and values the role of volunteer swim coaches who pursue their careers in a professional manner, realizing that not every community can afford what a professional/paid coach might request,” she said.
One of Smith’s fondest memories was in 1987 when she and Nigel Kemp took a team to the British Nationals at London’s Chrystal Palace.
“The pool was unique and above it were housed layer upon layer of swimmers from all over Europe,” she said. “The swimmers swam well. The icing on the cake was the fact that my son was on the team as well.”
The induction ceremony will be held in Calgary on Sept. 27, 2024.
The CSCA Hall of Fame was established in 2014. Past inductees include Nick Theirry, Deryk Snelling, Clifford Barry, Randy Bennett and Bryon MacDonald.