Lavoie new Pool Shark coach

Bob Lavoie

Bob Lavoie wants to bring the Chatham Pool Sharks swimming program back to prominence.

Lavoie has mostly coached in the private sector for the past two decades, where he has helped to guide multiple swimmers to the Canadian National Swim Championships, coached 12 swimmers to United States college scholarships, as well as others to Canadian university swim programs.

Lavoie said he hopes to bring a new culture and new attitude to the swimming program.

He said the team is here to win, explaining what winning is to the team.
“A win is a great practice session, a great attitude, a personal best time, and yes, a medal,” Lavoie said in a message to Chatham-Kent Sports Network.

“The opportunities are endless to determine and achieve a win. Every time we are in the pool, my aim is to teach and teach and teach,….. so these kids can win.”

Lavoie said he brings fire and intensity to the Sharks.

“These young athletes have all the potential in the world. They need to learn to compete. It’s human nature to compete. There is no shame in wanting to be the best. Everyday, these kids will be taught swim skills to build on, drills to improve on, and they will compete with each other” Lavoie said.

Lavoie has also served in the past as team manager for Team Canada at the International Children’s Games in Athens, Greece. He has also served as an on deck official at three Canadian National Swim Championships and two Canadian World Trials.

Lavoie is a proponent for swimming, as it’s total body training with minimal, if any, stress.
“That means a young growing youth to an elderly aged person, can get in the water, train hard (and properly) and only have positive experiences. No damage or stress to a growing body or an elderly body.”

A resident of Wheatley, Lavoie and his wife Kathleen, who are the parents of Cody and Maddy Lavoie, both former NCAA All-American swimmers who have gone on to make their own marks in the swimming world: Maddy, a Delta State University Hall of Fame inductee; and Cody is currently the owner/head coach of the Dallas Fast Fins.

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