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| 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. He then held various positions with the Queensland Government before becoming CEO of Queensland Swimming in 1999. | 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. He then held various positions with the Queensland Government before becoming CEO of Queensland Swimming in 1999. | ||
| After a poor showing by Canada at the ] in ], Baumann felt he had more to offer Canadian sport, and expressed interest in taking on the vacant leadership positions of either ] or the ]; however, neither organization felt he had the business background to handle the job. Ultimately, Baumann was not offered the Swimming Canada position and was excluded from the COA's shortlist of candidates. This caused some controversy in Canada as many Canadian athletes and citizens felt he was the best choice for either job. A number of foreign sports organizations felt the same way, and he was courted heavily by the English Institute of Sport and the Queensland Academy of Sport, ultimately accepting the position of executive director for the Queensland Academy of Sport in 2002. | After a poor showing by Canada at the ] in ], Baumann felt he had more to offer Canadian sport, and expressed interest in taking on the vacant leadership positions of either ] or the ]; however, neither organization felt he had the business background to handle the job. Ultimately, Baumann was not offered the Swimming Canada position and was excluded from the COA's shortlist of candidates. This caused some controversy in Canada as many Canadian athletes and citizens felt he was the best choice for either job. A number of foreign sports organizations felt the same way, and he was courted heavily by the English Institute of Sport and the Queensland Academy of Sport, ultimately accepting the position of executive director for the Queensland Academy of Sport in 2002. | ||
| Baumann shared a close bond with his coach of 14 years, Dr. Jeno Tihanyi. After the 1984 Olympics, the two authored a book titled ''Swimming with Alex Baumann: A Program for Competitive and Recreational Swimmers''. | Baumann shared a close bond with his coach of 14 years, Dr. Jeno Tihanyi. After the 1984 Olympics, the two authored a book titled ''Swimming with Alex Baumann: A Program for Competitive and Recreational Swimmers''. | ||
Revision as of 07:57, 17 June 2006
| Olympic medal record | ||
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| Men’s Swimming | ||
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1984 Los Angeles | 200m Individual Medley |
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1984 Los Angeles | 400m Individual Medley |
Alexander ("Alex") Baumann (born April 21, 1964) is a Canadian athlete, who won two gold medals and set two world records in swimming at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Biography
Born in Prague, (former Czechoslovakia), Baumann was raised in Canada after his family moved there in 1973 following the Prague Spring. The family settled in Sudbury, Ontario, where, at the age of nine, Baumann became involved in competitive swimming, training at Laurentian University.
By the time he was seventeen, Baumann held 38 Canadian swimming records. Internationally, he won gold in both 200 and 400-meter individual medley events and the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the 400-meter championship in the 1983 World University Games.
Prior to the 1984 Olympics, Baumann's father died of cancer and his brother, Roman, committed suicide. Baumann persevered through these tragedies, as well as lingering tendonitis and shoulder injuries, to enter the Olympics as one of Canada's best Olympic hopes.
At the 1984 Olympics, Baumann was selected as Canada's flagbearer for the opening ceremonies. He then won gold medals in the 400-metre individual medley, setting a world record time of 4:17.41, and the 200-metre race, setting a world record of 2:01.42. These were Canada's first gold medals in men's swimming since 1912.
He was named Canada's male athlete of the year for 1984 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was also named as the Male World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine in the same year. In 1988, he was awarded the Order of Ontario.
Baumann continued his swimming career with gold medals in the 1986 Commonwealth Games and the 1987 World Championships. Subsequent to the 1987 World Championships, Baumann retired from competitive swimming, initially working with Canadian broadcaster CBC for the 1988 Olympics, and also returning to Sudbury as a coach until 1992.
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. He then held various positions with the Queensland Government before becoming CEO of Queensland Swimming in 1999.
After a poor showing by Canada at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Baumann felt he had more to offer Canadian sport, and expressed interest in taking on the vacant leadership positions of either Swimming Canada or the Canadian Olympic Association; however, neither organization felt he had the business background to handle the job. Ultimately, Baumann was not offered the Swimming Canada position and was excluded from the COA's shortlist of candidates. This caused some controversy in Canada as many Canadian athletes and citizens felt he was the best choice for either job. A number of foreign sports organizations felt the same way, and he was courted heavily by the English Institute of Sport and the Queensland Academy of Sport, ultimately accepting the position of executive director for the Queensland Academy of Sport in 2002.
Baumann shared a close bond with his coach of 14 years, Dr. Jeno Tihanyi. After the 1984 Olympics, the two authored a book titled Swimming with Alex Baumann: A Program for Competitive and Recreational Swimmers.
External links
| Olympic champions in men's 400 m individual medley | |
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