The Canadian Swimming Coaches Association (CSCA) is pleased to announce the selected participants for the 2026 CSCA International Women in Coaching Mentorship Program.
Following a competitive application process, Reese Blunden (Pacific Sea Wolves) and Courtney Desjardins (Hamilton Aquatic Club) were selected to participate in this year’s program. The mentorship visit will take place with Abi Liu at the Bellevue Club in Bellevue, Washington, where participants will have the opportunity to observe Liu’s program firsthand and engage in meaningful discussion around coaching philosophy, leadership, and athlete development.
They will join Roberta Roos (Nanaimo Riptide Swim Team) and Kristin Buchanan (Oakville Aquatic Club), who were originally selected for the 2025 visitation, which had to be postponed.
The Women in Coaching Mentorship Program is designed to support the development and advancement of women in coaching by providing meaningful learning opportunities and exposure to high-performance training environments.
“Programs like this are critical to building stronger pathways for women in coaching,” said Marta Belsh, Chair of the CSCA Women in Coaching Committee. “By creating opportunities for coaches to learn directly from experienced leaders like Abi Liu, we help strengthen confidence, expand networks, and support the continued growth of women in our profession.”
The CSCA looks forward to supporting Reese Blunden, Roberta Roos, and Kristin Buchanan as they take part in this mentorship experience and continue contributing to the growth and development of women in coaching across Canada.
**Since the selection process, Courtney Desjardins has unfortunately had to withdraw from the program. The CSCA thanks Courtney for her interest and engagement with the initiative and hopes to see her participate in future CSCA opportunities.