Geraldine Narvaez, from Montreal Synchro, has been named Team Manager for the 2023 Junior National Team. She will work throughout the summer to prepare the team’s participation in the Panam Aquatics Artistic Swimming Championships to be held in August in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She will also accompany the team in support of coaches Karine Doré, Yingli Hou and Kasia Kulesza.
“Canada is my country, the one that opened its arms to me, to my family, the place were my kids were born and the place that I’m in love with,” stated Geraldine. “Being a part of the Canadia Junior National Team was always a life dream and now is a way to give back my gratitude for all that the country has given to me. We have very talented swimmers an amazing coaching staff, and I’m extremly proud and happy to have this opportunity. The sky is the limit, GO CANADA GO!!!”
Geraldine is also one of the apprentice coaches who have been invited to participate in the team’s training camp. With a goal to increase the pool of artistic swimming coaches in Canada who are working towards a future vision for the sport, and following last year’s successful apprentice coach program, CAS invited Canadian coaches to apply for an apprentice opportunity with the Junior National Team.
“We’re very pleased with the high participation of Canadian coaches in our apprentice program,” said Kasia Kulesza, CAS NextGen Head Coach. “These coaches are coming from all across Canada and will bring their experiences back to their clubs and provinces.”
The coaches will gain experience to prepare them for future opportunities. They will work alongside the national team coaches and play key support roles at the camp.
“We’re fortunate to have so much depth in our coaching community,” added CAS Chief Sport Officer Kerri Morgan. “The support and involvement of club coaches is very important as we continue to strive for excellence. I know that working with our National Team coaches will be a truly enriching and growing experience for all of these apprentice coaches.”
The 2023 Junior National Team Apprentice Coaches are:
NAME | CLUB | PROVINCE |
Stephanie Breitigam | Olympium Artistic Swimming | Ontario |
Theodosa den Brok | Saskatoon Aqualenes | Saskatchewan |
Kaelyn Drumm | Regina Synchro | Saskatchewan |
Salma El Baba | Montreal Synchro | Quebec |
Holly Hjartarson | Aquatica Artistic Swimming | Manitoba |
Jackee King | Granite Artistic Swimming | Ontario |
Julie MacFarlane | Artistic Swimming Fredericton | New Brunswick |
Ally Merrill | Atlantis Artistic Swimming | Nova Scotia |
Elena Podolsky | Waterloo Region Artistic Swimming | Ontario |
Hannah Proud | British Columbia | |
Kaila Risling | Red Deer Silhouettes | Alberta |
Anastasia Sizenova | Kelowna Dolphins | British Columbia |