We are thrilled to announce the acclamation of Catherine Barrett as the new Athlete Chair and member of the board of directors for Canada Artistic Swimming. Catherine, hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland, brings with her an impressive background in artistic swimming and a passion for the sport.
With 15 years of dedicated involvement in artistic swimming, Catherine’s journey began with Sea Stars Synchro in St. John’s, where she honed her skills and progressed through the high-performance levels in Canada. In 2014, she made the decision to pursue her artistic swimming dreams in Ontario, quickly establishing herself as a formidable competitor on the national scene. Catherine’s talent and determination led her to win numerous national championship medals, propelling her onto the Junior National Team that competed at the prestigious FINA Junior World Championships in Budapest in 2018. Following her success, Catherine joined the Senior National Team, embracing the full-time training environment in Montreal.
A crowning achievement for Catherine came in 2019 when she was part of the gold-medal-winning team at the Pan Am Games in Lima, securing a spot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Standing atop the podium in Peru remains the favourite moment of her illustrious career thus far.
Beyond her accomplishments in the pool, Catherine remains deeply connected to artistic swimming. She actively serves as an ambassador to clubs in Newfoundland and Labrador, where she shares her passion for the sport with aspiring athletes. Additionally, Catherine holds a certified coach designation and is pursuing a Bachelor of Kinesiology at Memorial University, further fueling her dedication to the field of science and her commitment to diversity and inclusion.
As the newly elected Athlete Chair, Catherine Barrett embraces her role as the voice of the athletes at board meetings for Canada Artistic Swimming. She is enthusiastic about building the sport across the nation, particularly in more remote clubs and fostering diverse programs. Catherine will spearhead the athletes’ council, a collective of current and former senior national team athletes dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment within the sport.
Catherine’s transition into her new role follows in the footsteps of the outgoing Athletes’ Council Chair, Olivia Zawadiuk, who served with success for the past four years. Olivia warmly congratulates Catherine on her election and extends her best wishes. She is currently providing guidance and support to Catherine, sharing the tools and expertise for Athlete Representation developed by AthletesCAN. Catherine has already begun integrating into strategic planning sessions, which will provide invaluable leadership and direction for the Canada Artistic Swimming 2024-2028 strategic plan.
Florence Klein, the President of CAS’ Board, joins in congratulating Catherine Barrett on her well-deserved appointment. She also extends her gratitude to Olivia Zawadiuk, the retiring Athlete Chair from British Columbia, for her dedicated service over the past four years. Recognizing the importance of the Athletes’ Council, Klein emphasizes that Catherine’s presence on the board will ensure that the voice of the athletes remains at the forefront of decision-making.
The role of the Athlete Chair is a vital one within CAS, serving as the Committee Chair for the Athlete Council and providing counsel to the Canada Artistic Swimming Board of Directors. To be eligible for this position, one must be a former member of the Canadian National Team (either 13-15, Junior, or Senior) and have retired within the past five years. Catherine’s election underscores her exceptional qualifications and positions her as a direct advocate for athletes within the realm of artistic swimming in Canada.
Please join us in congratulating Catherine Barrett on her acclamation as the new Athlete Chair for Canada Artistic Swimming.