Our Coaches
HEAD COACH & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Jan Debney (High Performance Advisor) > Jan has coached Synchronized Swimming since 1972 when she learned her trade under the watchful eye of Mary Ann Reeves and later Debbie Muir. Through these two powerful women in the sport of Canadian Synchronized Swimming she learned valuable tools that have assisted her in being one of Alberta’s top coaches in the area of developmental swimmers. When Jan coached teams, she taught girls to love the sport, to set achievable goals and how to achieve their full potential as a synchronized swimmer. Jan believes in the potential of each girl and strives to offer a program where young girls can learn to love this sport while reaching their full potential as an athlete. Jan has coached at the developmental and National Age Group level. In her role as Technical Director of Calgary Elite, Jan will work to produce well rounded coaches and athletes.
Kim Hurtig (Head Coach) > Kim was introduced to the sport of synchro when she started as a pre-competitive swimmer with the Edmonton Auroras in 1990. After one session, Kim was hooked and has been involved in the sport in some capacity ever since. As a swimmer, Kim competed with the Edmonton Auroras, Nova Synchro and Killarney Synchro. She then transitioned into the word of Masters where she won a silver medal in the World Masters Games Championship and three (3) gold medals at the US Masters Nationals, most recently in October 2016. Kim began her coaching career with the Calgary Aquabelles in 2001 and has had an opportunity to coach pre-competitive, provincial competitive, national stream, collegiate and masters athletes over the past 15 years. The sport of synchro has provided Kim with life-long friendships, a 'sport for life', and a skill-set that has transferred beyond the pool into her career. In her first year as Head Coach of Calgary Elite, Kim is excited to work with the athletes, coaches and families to ensure that they all have the wonderful experience in this sport that she has experienced.
Kristin Johnson (Technical Director, U8 & U12 Team Coach) > Kristin was a Synchronized Swimmer for 9 years before she retired due to injury. To carry on her love of the sport Kristin decided to coach young athletes. She has consistently had first place finishes at all Provincial and Western Canadian Meets (MASYS) where she has coached girls at the Wildrose Level. As well, Kristin has coached girls to first place finishes in solo and duet. Kristin has always managed to produce well rounded young athletes since her coaching career began.
TEAM COACHES
Beth Bold (U12 Team Coach) > Beth was a Synchronized Swimmer for 10 years before she retired and decided that she wanted to coach. She has a passion for her swimmers and this sport and has had great success over the years. Beth is a level 3 NCCP coach and has coached her teams to 5 & 6th place finishes at Nationals for 2 consecutive years. She was proud to coach a young swimmer for 6 years and watch her make a National Team in 2008. In addition, Beth coached a duet and solo to their best place finishes ever when they were awarded silver medals at the Espoir Nationals in Edmonton in 2008. Beth was awarded the Terry Hambrook award for Canada's Most Promising Coach in 2009.
Elena Spronk (U8 Team Coach) >Elena was a speed swimmer for 6 years, a synchro swimmer for 5 years with the Calgary Aquabelles and 3 years with the Queen's University team. After years of teaching swimming lessons and life guarding she coached her first year competitive synchro team in 2009. From 2010-2011 she helped out with the 10 and unders at Calgary Elite Synchro. Elena is thrilled to share her love of swimming through coaching the 10 & unders this year. Her favourite aspect of coaching is watching the girls develop confidence, learn new skills and accomplish their goals and become team players.
Alex Titov (U10 Team Coach) > Alex started out in the sport of synchronized swimming in 2006 with the Calgary Aquabelles. Starting in the provincial competitive stream, Alex finished her competitive synchro career as an athlete at a national level. Alex has provided coaching assistance to Calgary Elite Synchro for the past couple of years and we are extremely excited to welcome her as a team coach this 2016/17 season.
SUPPORT & SPECIALISED COACHES
Olivia Jack > Flexibility Instructor
Drew Malinowski > Dance Instructor
Elise Marcotte >Former Olympian and amazing High Performance coach for our U12 Team.
Lisa Williamson > Dedicated substitute coach
Jan Debney (High Performance Advisor) > Jan has coached Synchronized Swimming since 1972 when she learned her trade under the watchful eye of Mary Ann Reeves and later Debbie Muir. Through these two powerful women in the sport of Canadian Synchronized Swimming she learned valuable tools that have assisted her in being one of Alberta’s top coaches in the area of developmental swimmers. When Jan coached teams, she taught girls to love the sport, to set achievable goals and how to achieve their full potential as a synchronized swimmer. Jan believes in the potential of each girl and strives to offer a program where young girls can learn to love this sport while reaching their full potential as an athlete. Jan has coached at the developmental and National Age Group level. In her role as Technical Director of Calgary Elite, Jan will work to produce well rounded coaches and athletes.
Kim Hurtig (Head Coach) > Kim was introduced to the sport of synchro when she started as a pre-competitive swimmer with the Edmonton Auroras in 1990. After one session, Kim was hooked and has been involved in the sport in some capacity ever since. As a swimmer, Kim competed with the Edmonton Auroras, Nova Synchro and Killarney Synchro. She then transitioned into the word of Masters where she won a silver medal in the World Masters Games Championship and three (3) gold medals at the US Masters Nationals, most recently in October 2016. Kim began her coaching career with the Calgary Aquabelles in 2001 and has had an opportunity to coach pre-competitive, provincial competitive, national stream, collegiate and masters athletes over the past 15 years. The sport of synchro has provided Kim with life-long friendships, a 'sport for life', and a skill-set that has transferred beyond the pool into her career. In her first year as Head Coach of Calgary Elite, Kim is excited to work with the athletes, coaches and families to ensure that they all have the wonderful experience in this sport that she has experienced.
Kristin Johnson (Technical Director, U8 & U12 Team Coach) > Kristin was a Synchronized Swimmer for 9 years before she retired due to injury. To carry on her love of the sport Kristin decided to coach young athletes. She has consistently had first place finishes at all Provincial and Western Canadian Meets (MASYS) where she has coached girls at the Wildrose Level. As well, Kristin has coached girls to first place finishes in solo and duet. Kristin has always managed to produce well rounded young athletes since her coaching career began.
TEAM COACHES
Beth Bold (U12 Team Coach) > Beth was a Synchronized Swimmer for 10 years before she retired and decided that she wanted to coach. She has a passion for her swimmers and this sport and has had great success over the years. Beth is a level 3 NCCP coach and has coached her teams to 5 & 6th place finishes at Nationals for 2 consecutive years. She was proud to coach a young swimmer for 6 years and watch her make a National Team in 2008. In addition, Beth coached a duet and solo to their best place finishes ever when they were awarded silver medals at the Espoir Nationals in Edmonton in 2008. Beth was awarded the Terry Hambrook award for Canada's Most Promising Coach in 2009.
Elena Spronk (U8 Team Coach) >Elena was a speed swimmer for 6 years, a synchro swimmer for 5 years with the Calgary Aquabelles and 3 years with the Queen's University team. After years of teaching swimming lessons and life guarding she coached her first year competitive synchro team in 2009. From 2010-2011 she helped out with the 10 and unders at Calgary Elite Synchro. Elena is thrilled to share her love of swimming through coaching the 10 & unders this year. Her favourite aspect of coaching is watching the girls develop confidence, learn new skills and accomplish their goals and become team players.
Alex Titov (U10 Team Coach) > Alex started out in the sport of synchronized swimming in 2006 with the Calgary Aquabelles. Starting in the provincial competitive stream, Alex finished her competitive synchro career as an athlete at a national level. Alex has provided coaching assistance to Calgary Elite Synchro for the past couple of years and we are extremely excited to welcome her as a team coach this 2016/17 season.
SUPPORT & SPECIALISED COACHES
Olivia Jack > Flexibility Instructor
Drew Malinowski > Dance Instructor
Elise Marcotte >Former Olympian and amazing High Performance coach for our U12 Team.
Lisa Williamson > Dedicated substitute coach