26 Facts About Alex Baumann

In May 2021, Baumann was appointed Chief Executive of Swimming Australia.

The family settled in Sudbury, Ontario, where, at the age of nine, Alex Baumann became involved in competitive swimming, training at Laurentian University.

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.

Alex Baumann won the 400-metre individual medley event at the 1983 World University Games.

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.

At the 1984 Olympics, Alex Baumann was selected as Canada's flagbearer for the opening ceremonies.

Alex Baumann won gold medals in the 400-metre individual medley, setting a world record time of 4:17.41, and the 200-metre race, lowering the world mark to 2:01.42.

Alex Baumann shared a close bond with his coach of 14 years, Dr Jeno Tihanyi.

Subsequent to the 1987 Pacific Championships in Australia, Alex Baumann retired from competitive swimming, initially working with Canadian broadcaster CBC for the 1988 Olympics, and returning to Sudbury as a coach until 1991.

Some speculated that Alex Baumann was unable to find a coaching position due to his outspokenness.

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.

Alex Baumann criticized Swimming Canada for its subpar performances at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1990.

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.

Alex Baumann then held various positions with the Queensland Government before becoming CEO of Queensland Swimming in 1999.

Ultimately, Alex Baumann was not offered the Canadian Olympic Committee position.

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.

At that time, Alex Baumann announced a goal for Team Canada: a top 16 finish in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a top 12 finish at the 2012 London Games.

At the Beijing Olympiad, Canada wound up finishing 19th in gold medals and 14th in total medals, and Alex Baumann's methods were vindicated.

Alex Baumann resigned in June 2017 due to the desire to move back to Australia to be closer to his children and extended family.

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.

Alex Baumann was named Canada's male athlete of the year for 1984 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Alex Baumann was named the Male World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine in the same year.

Alex Baumann was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

Alex Baumann was named Honorary Colonel of 412 VIP Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force based in Ottawa in June 2011.

In 2012, Alex Baumann received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Alex Baumann is married to Tracey Taggart, an Australian swimmer he met during the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games.