Chris Manning: A Coach's Perspective

There are some swimmers you never forget.

Chris Manning is one of those swimmers.

I first knew Chris long before he became a Canadian National Team swimmer, an NCAA All-American, or one of the fastest swimmers ever to come out of Brantford. I knew him as the son of Jeff Manning, our family doctor, a good friend, and a swimmer I had coached years earlier.

That connection makes Chris's story particularly special to me.

Over more than sixty years in coaching, I have worked with thousands of swimmers, but only a handful have combined talent, determination, intelligence, and character the way Chris did. From a young age, it was obvious that he possessed unusual ability in the water. What impressed me even more, however, was his willingness to work, learn, and continually challenge himself to improve.

Chris developed through the Brantford Aquatic Club system and quickly established himself as one of the finest age-group swimmers in Canada. He qualified for Olympic Trials at just fifteen years of age, set Canadian age-group records, represented Canada internationally, and eventually became a member of the Canadian National Team.

His swimming journey took him to Auburn University, one of the premier swimming programs in the United States, where he earned NCAA All-America honours. He later continued his career at the University of Toronto, becoming one of the country's top university swimmers while representing Canada on the international stage.

Those accomplishments are impressive, but they tell only part of the story.

What I remember most about Chris was his professionalism. He approached swimming with maturity beyond his years. He listened. He learned. He respected his teammates and coaches. He understood that success was earned through countless small decisions made every day over many years.

In many ways, Chris represented everything a coach hopes for in an athlete.

His success was also a source of pride because it reflected the strength of a family that valued hard work, education, and commitment. Jeff and his wife provided the kind of support that allows young athletes to flourish. They understood that excellence is rarely an accident.

This spring, Jeff retired from his medical practice after a lifetime of service to the Brantford community. For countless families, he was more than a physician—he was a trusted advisor, a calming presence, and a friend. Knowing Jeff as both a swimmer and later as our family doctor has been one of the privileges of my life.

Looking back now, I realize how unusual it has been to coach both father and son and to watch two generations of the same family make meaningful contributions to their community in very different ways.

Jeff dedicated his life to caring for people.

Chris dedicated years to pursuing excellence in one of the world's most demanding sports.

Both succeeded because they shared many of the same qualities: integrity, commitment, humility, and an unwavering willingness to do the work.

As a coach, seeing Chris rise from a young swimmer in Brantford to representing Canada internationally remains one of the highlights of my career. As a friend, seeing Jeff complete a remarkable medical career and enter retirement is equally gratifying.

The Manning family has left an enduring mark on our community, and I feel fortunate to have been a small part of their journey.

Some athletes win races.

Some families leave a legacy.

The Mannings did both.

Rebecca Terejko: Excellence in the Water, Excellence in Life

Some swimmers achieve success because they are talented.

Some achieve success because they are willing to work harder than everyone else.

The truly special ones combine both.

Rebecca Terejko was one of those swimmers.

Over the course of my coaching career, I have been fortunate to work with many outstanding athletes, but Rebecca stands out not only because of her accomplishments in the pool, but because of the remarkable family that helped shape the person she became.

Rebecca came from an extraordinary family of twelve children.

Just think about that for a moment.

Twelve children growing up under one roof, learning to share, cooperate, support one another, and work together. Families like that teach lessons that cannot be found in any swimming pool. They teach responsibility, resilience, humility, and the understanding that success is never achieved alone.

Those qualities were evident in Rebecca from the day she entered the program.

She was talented, certainly. But talent only takes a swimmer so far.

What separated Rebecca from many of her peers was her willingness to commit herself fully to the process of improvement. She understood that excellence is built one practice at a time, one workout at a time, one day at a time.

As she progressed through the Brantford Aquatic Club program, Rebecca developed into one of the finest swimmers our community has ever produced. Her achievements eventually extended far beyond the local and provincial levels, earning recognition both for her athletic accomplishments and for her excellence in the classroom.

One of the proudest moments in her journey came when she received the Governor General's Medal, one of Canada's most prestigious academic awards. To excel at the highest levels in both academics and athletics is a rare achievement. It speaks not only to intelligence, but to discipline, organization, and character.

Rebecca demonstrated all of those qualities.

As coaches, we often talk about building complete athletes. What we really mean is helping young people become complete individuals. Swimming is important, but it is only part of the story. The ultimate goal is to help develop young people who will succeed long after their competitive careers are over.

Rebecca embodied that ideal.

She represented the best qualities of competitive swimming: determination, perseverance, sportsmanship, and a commitment to excellence. At the same time, she never lost sight of the importance of education, family, and personal growth.

Looking back now, I am reminded that great athletes rarely emerge in isolation. They are usually supported by great families, strong values, and communities that believe in them.

Rebecca's accomplishments belong to her, but they also reflect the incredible family environment that helped shape her. Growing up as one of twelve children undoubtedly taught lessons that served her well throughout her athletic and academic career.

As a coach, watching Rebecca develop into an outstanding swimmer was rewarding.

Watching her grow into an outstanding person was even more rewarding.

Years later, her story remains one of the finest examples of what can happen when talent, hard work, education, family support, and character all come together.

Swimming gave Rebecca a platform.

Her character allowed her to make the most of it.

For that reason, she remains one of the athletes I am most proud to have coached.

Mackenzie Salmon

Mackenzie Salmon is the  Head Coach of Middlesex Swimming and one of a growing number of Canadian coaches who believes that swimming is about far more than simply completing workouts. His coaching philosophy centers on athlete development, technical mastery, race understanding, and creating an environment where swimmers learn to think for themselves.

As a teenager, Mackenzie made the decision to leave the London Aquatic Club and join the W. Ross Macdonald  team (WRMS) swimming program under coach Mike Finch. It was a move that would have a lasting impact on both his swimming career and his future coaching philosophy.

At WRMS, Mackenzie was exposed to an approach that emphasized understanding rather than simply training. Video feedback, technical analysis, athlete responsibility, race execution, and individual problem-solving were all part of the daily culture. Swimmers were encouraged to become active participants in their own development rather than passive recipients of coaching instructions.

Many of those principles continue to influence Mackenzie's work today.

As the owner and Head Coach of Middlesex Swimming, Mackenzie has built a program that values quality coaching, strong athlete-coach relationships, technical excellence, and long-term swimmer development. His athletes benefit from a coaching style that encourages curiosity, accountability, and a deeper understanding of the sport.

Mackenzie understands that successful swimmers are not built solely through fitness. They are developed through knowledge, confidence, technical skill, and the ability to make good decisions under pressure. That belief, shared with many of the philosophies he first encountered as a swimmer at WRMS, continues to shape the culture of Middlesex Swimming today.

Respected by athletes, parents, and fellow coaches alike, Mackenzie represents a new generation of swim coaches who are committed to helping swimmers reach their potential not only as competitors, but as confident and capable young people.

His journey from teenage swimmer to club owner serves as a reminder that great coaching leaves a legacy that extends far beyond the pool deck.