In May 2021, Alex Baumann was appointed Chief Executive of Swimming Australia.
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26 Facts About Alex Baumann
2.
The family settled in Sudbury, Ontario, where, at the age of nine, Alex Baumann became involved in competitive swimming, training at Laurentian University.
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3.
Alex Baumann accepted a swimming scholarship and entered Indiana University to train under its legendary coach James "Doc" Counsilman; however with chronic pain in his shoulder, he made the decision to return to Sudbury to continue physical therapy and training under the direction of his long-time coach, Dr Jeno Tihanyi.
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4.
Alex Baumann won the 400-metre individual medley event at the 1983 World University Games.
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5.
Alex Baumann persevered through these tragedies, as well as his lingering tendinitis and shoulder injuries, to enter the Olympics as one of Canada's best Olympic hopes.
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6.
At the 1984 Olympics, Alex Baumann was selected as Canada's flagbearer for the opening ceremonies.
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7.
Alex Baumann won gold medals in the 400-metre individual medley, setting a world record time of 4:17.
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8.
Alex Baumann continued his swimming career with three gold medals at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in the two individual medley events, and swimming anchor on Canada's 4 × 100 m medley relay team.
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9.
Alex Baumann shared a close bond with his coach of 14 years, Dr Jeno Tihanyi.
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11.
Some speculated that Alex Baumann was unable to find a coaching position due to his outspokenness.
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12.
Alex Baumann criticized the Canadian Olympic Committee for dismissing Don Talbot and replacing him with Dave Johnson, as it was widely alleged that Talbot was fired for refusing to put the daughter of a Committee member on the national team.
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13.
Alex Baumann criticized Swimming Canada for its subpar performances at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1990.
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14.
Alex Baumann moved to Australia to enter graduate studies at the University of Queensland before becoming manager of sport programs with the Queensland Academy of Sport between 1996 and 1997.
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15.
Alex Baumann then held various positions with the Queensland Government before becoming CEO of Queensland Swimming in 1999.
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16.
Ultimately, Alex Baumann was not offered the Canadian Olympic Committee position.
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17.
On 27 September 2006, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced that Alex Baumann was hired to take over Canada's Road to Excellence initiative beginning in January 2007.
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19.
Alex Baumann resigned in June 2017 due to the desire to move back to Australia to be closer to his children and extended family.
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20.
On 9 August 2021 Alex Baumann announced his resignation as the CEO of Swimming Australia after only 3 months of tenure, citing health concerns and wanting to spend more time with his family.
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21.
Alex Baumann was named Canada's male athlete of the year for 1984 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
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22.
Alex Baumann was named as the Male World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine in the same year.
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24.
Alex Baumann was named Honorary Colonel of 412 VIP Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force based in Ottawa in June 2011.
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25.
In 2012, Alex Baumann received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
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26.
Alex Baumann is married to Tracey Taggart, an Australian swimmer he met during the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games.
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