“…music talks to me. Sometimes I get a feeling of what type of movement is needed to fit the moment and I work with the swimmers to bring the movement to life.”

Olga Novokshchenova

Inspire. Connect. Create.

Sheilagh Croxon

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

  • Atlanta Olympic Games Co-coached the Canadian Olympic Synchronized Swim team to a silver medal win.

  • Sydney Olympic Games As Canadian Olympic Head Coach, scored another Olympic medal, this time a bronze.

  • Beijing Olympic Games Coached New Zealand’s Synchro duet team to qualify for the country’s first Olympic Games since 1984

  • London Olympic Games Choreographed the free duet program for Korea

  • Led Toronto’s Granite Synchro Club to top honors in the field in Canada, including 2 National Team Titles, multiple athletes named to Canada’s National teams and 5 athletes received scholarships to prestigious US schools

  • Inspired generations of athletes and coaches with her ability to conceive unique ideas which lay the foundation for meaningful choreography.

  • Ground breaker in the field of women in coaching, leading the Women in Coaching program for the Coaching Association of Canada from 2004-2012

  • Facilitated the inaugural women coach intern program for the Commonwealth Games Federation during the Commonwealth Games in 2018

  • Founding Board Member and Past Chair of the Coaches Association of Ontario

  • Currently one of five coaches worldwide named to the Fina Coaches Commission for Artistic Swimming through 2021

Claire Carver-Dias

Claire Carver Dias

WORKSHOPS & KEYNOTE TALKS
ADVANCED LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR COACHES

  • Dr Carver-Dias’ distinguished professional life spans the worlds of elite sport, business and academia.

  • Multiple medallist in synchronized swimming (Olympic, Pan American, World Championship and Commonwealth Games).

  • Chef de Mission for Team Canada at 2018 Commonwealth Games.

  • Holds degrees from University of Toronto Mississauga (BA), McGill University (MA) and University of Wales, Bangor (PhD in English and Communications).

  • Experienced consultant in management and communications issues, blending techniques of team building, goal-setting and messaging to help individuals in professional and service industries achieve their full potential.

  • Past experience includes work as a business coach and practice lead with a top-tier executive coaching firm.

  • Past Director of Board of Coaching Association of Canada; Past President of AthletesCAN; current Board Director of Commonwealth Games Canada.

  • Holds Coaching Certification from International Coaching Federation and is certified administer of several psychometric assessments.

  • In addition to her many professional and volunteer services, Dr Carver-Dias is an award-winning author, novice triathlete and mother of four.

Chihiro Ishii

ARTISTIC SWIMMING

  • Born in Japan, a country renowned for its powerful, musical artistic swimming performances.

  • Over 20 years’ experience as an Artistic Swimming Coach and Choreographer.

  • 11 years as Head Coach of Japan’s Aquarab Fujisawa (Kanagawa Japan) Club, where she developed many Japanese athletes in the sport of Artistic Swimming.

  • Coached Japan’s Kano Omato to Olympic level. Kano won a bronze medal in team at the 2016 Olympic Games.
  • Moved to Canada in 2013 to work with celebrated coach Sheilagh Croxon at Granite Club Toronto and coached there from 2013 – 2017. Assisted Canada’s Senior National team in 2018 season
  • Currently working with Team Ontario in preparation for 2019 Canada Winter Games – and as support coach at Regional Training Centre Ontario.

  • Her musical gifts showed themselves at age 3 when she started piano lessons.

  • Highly trained musical sensibilities enable her to make music choices that lend themselves to meaningful choreography, inspiring athletes and audiences alike.

Olga Novokshchenova

ARTISTIC SWIMMING

  • Born in Russian Federation. Now lives in Jamaica where she is Head Coach of the Island Aquatic Synchro Club in Port Antonio.

  • As member of Russia’s National Synchronized Swimming Team, helped that country win Gold Medals in both Sydney and Athens Olympics.

  • Extensive movement, dance and ballet training as an athlete with the famed Bolshoi Theatre and Moiseyeve Dance Ensemble.

  • Unique background combining high-level athletic and extensive dance training enables her to expand the training repertoire of swimmers she coaches, with emphasis on grace and flexibility.

  • Gifted choreographer and technician specializing in creating movement that expresses the mood and music it is designed to accompany.