3433 Coach Bios

Certifications

• Masters Degree in Kinesiology University of Calgary
• Bachelors in Human Kinetics University of British Columbia
• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology - CEP certified
• NCCP Level 1 Road, Mountain Bike, Triathlon
• NCCP Triathlon Comp Intro Part 2

Why do you coach at MNP Community & Sport Centre?

Fundamentally, I coach to help people realize their athletic potential.  MNP Community & Sport Centre provides an incredible environment in which to challenge athletes and see them achieve things they didn’t believe they could.

What is your favourite part of sport?

What we learn about ourselves via the training process and during competition.

What is on your bucket list of challenges/races and why?

Leadville 100Mile Mountain Bike Race and LOTOJA Cycling Race – to experience the beauty of those locations while exploring my physical and mental limits on a bicycle.

What super human power would you have and why?

Wolverine’s healing factor so I wouldn’t have to deal with injuries.

How do you create the best coaching experiences for your athletes?

My approach is to help athletes understand how to best integrate, adapt and balance their training with the demands of life as well as instilling high levels of confidence and belief in their abilities.

"Everyone is an individual and must be treated as such. This is why the training I prescribe dove tails with each athlete's lifestyle in an effective and realistic manner.”

Certifications

• Level 2 Anatomy and Physiology
• Level 3 Fitness (TAFEWA)
• Level 4 Fitness (TAFEWA)
• Weightlifting For Sport - Eleiko - International Weightlifting Federation
• Curso de LPO Cubano - Ran entirely in Spanish by Cuban weightlifting coach Luiz Lopez, coach to Panamerican Gold Medalist and top 5 Olympian, Fernando Reis. Over many months we delved into over Cuban Methodology, multi-year planning and biomechanics. 

Why do you coach at MNP Community & Sport Centre?

Having worked in a range of environments such as large sport centres in The Netherlands to brand new Weightlifting facilities in Brazil, I was drawn to the Facility immediately upon entering the white tent. It's wide variety of athletes and the many uses the facility offers, creates a "Performance Culture" that is addicting. It's also hard not to feel motivated when you walk in at 5:30am every morning and see athletes already in the pool, training before work and school. 

What is on your bucket list of challenges/races and why?

• Climbing Acongagua (near future).
• Climbing Denali or an 8000m peak (distant future).
• Rowing the Pacific or Atlantic ocean.  

What super human power would you have and why?

The ability to feel what the athlete is feeling.

How do you create the best coaching experiences for your athletes?

The atmosphere of a training environment can fuel or diminish a session. I try to get in tune with everyone I'm coaching so I can maximise their potential for that particular day. With groups, I encourage an environment where everyone is coaching and supporting each other. This helps build an active session where rest periods are used as another opportunity to learn and teach. Ultimately the best coaching experience comes from understanding the person you're working with and what their strengths and weaknesses are so as to maximise their potential and help them reach their goals.

Certifications

• Bachelor of Science Kinesiology, Certified Athletic Therapist

Why do you coach at MNP Community & Sport Centre?

The facility allows me to cater to all the needs that my athletes have in their training programs. The culture of the club and its members is the best in the city.

What is your favourite part of Sport?

It allows us to find new limits and truly challenge ourselves individually.

What is on your bucket list of challenges/races and why?

Kona. When I was 17 I picked up my first triathlon magazine and read about Normann Stadler winning the 2006 Ironman in Hawaii. I have wanted to get there since.  

What super human power would you have and why?

 A superhuman metabolism...food is my weakness!

How do you create the best coaching experiences for your athletes?

 I try to frame all workouts in such a way that athletes can self-direct their success by achieving their specific goals. This allows my athletes to progress at a rate that is optimal to them.

Certifications

• NCCP trained Triathlon Coach
• Certified Personal Trainer

Why do you coach at MNP Community & Sport Centre?

I coach because I love to inspire people to be better than they think they are. MNP Community & Sport Centre gives the coaches all the tools we need under one roof to help our athletes.

What is your favourite part of Sport?

The excitement of race day no matter what type of event it is.

What is on your bucket list of challenges/races and why?

This list is too long to itemize. Short list of challenges: solo hike the West Coast Trail and race Kona 70.3.

What super human power would you have and why?

I would have the power to never get sick. Why? Because it sucks!

How do you create the best coaching experiences for your athletes?

Research current training methodologies. Being aware of my athlete’s needs. Preparing for each session. Encouraging my athletes to push harder. 

Experience

• 5 time Olympian
• 2 time Olympic Medalist
• World Champion

Why do you coach at MNP Community & Sport Centre?

I like working with kids.  I think that I have knowledge and experience that can help these athletes to become the best they can be.

What is on your bucket list of challenges/races and why?

As far as races and competitions, I am done with that.  My future challenges are in my personal & career development.  I want to help elite athletes become Olympians.

What super human power would you have and why?

I would be Superman, so I could help everyone.

How do you create the best coaching experiences for your athletes?

By getting to know them and gearing their training to each individual.  I learn their strengths and weaknesses and work with them to make them the best they can be.

Experience

• Seven time Olympian (2 times Olympic swimmer and 5 times Olympic coach)
• Coached: Olympic, World Championship medalists
• 30 years of coaching experience
• Current master swimmer   

Lesson Emphasis

• Supporting swimming development Swimmers and Triathletes focusing on technique
• Emphasizing swimming body position, propulsion and swimming rhythm
• Offering individual and small group lessons

I come from a well-respected coaching family, with my Mother Sharon Pierce representing Canada at the Pan American Games in 1963. She inspired a true love of swimming in both her daughters and I  became fascinated with the technical aspects of the sport while growing up on deck and watching her coach. I ran my first practice at 14 and I have never looked back. This year marks my 20th year coaching and I am proud to call myself a full time trainer. I have previously worked in both Canada and Belgium with competitive and nationally ranked athletes. I enjoy working in both the triathlete and competitive swimming worlds as they challenge me in different ways. I work with all ages and abilities specializing in the technical aspects of the stroke. Together we can achieve your sport specific goals.

Certifications

• BSc in Psychology and Minor in Biology, Uof C
• BEd Master of Teaching Program, UofC
• Trained Triathlon Community Coach Triathlon

Why do you coach at MNP Community & Sport Centre?

Coaching is definitely one of my passions - there is nothing greater than being a part of an athlete's journey and watching them discover how strong and capable they are.  I am completely filled with joy being involved in helping an athlete set a goal that seems out of their comfort zone and then being a part of getting them to realize that they can pretty much do anything they set their mind to - that is an amazing experience for them and for me. Now as for coaching at MNP Community & Sport Centre?  It's pretty much like Disneyland to me - I get excited every time I set foot into the building!  State of the art equipment, happy people working hard everywhere, and it's a high performance athletic centre.  One of the best ways to improve oneself is to be surrounded by people who are better than you - so it's the perfect place!

What is your favourite part of sport?

Setting goals, working really hard to achieve them, overcoming mental and physical challenges, being part of a community with like-minded individuals and finding balance in between all of that.

What is on your bucket list of challenges/races and why?

Would I be a triathlete if I didn't mention Kona?  So ya, Kona. And I guess I'll have to do a bunch of Ironman's to get there! Escape from Alcatraz - probably the most exhilarating race start I have seen! Any triathlon in Australia or New Zealand

What super human power would you have and why?

I definitely would appreciate the ability to heal myself... I would love to get through a race season without injury!

How do you create the best coaching experiences for your athletes?

I am extremely enthusiastic, energetic, and positive and I love handing out compliments.  More importantly, I am devoted to getting athletes to set big goals, recognize their current strengths and how to improve both mentally and physically.  I honour connection with my athletes and invest energy into making them realize how awesome they are.  

"Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and above all, don't let anyone limit your dreams" ~ Donovan Bailey