The University of British Columbia will be honouring their top swimmers and coaches that competed from 1998-2007, giving recognition for the 10 men’s championships and 10 women’s championships won during those years.
Over that particular decade UBC produced 42 international competitors which includes Canadian great Brian Johns who despite his retirement still holds the current Canadian record in the long and short course 400 IM as well as the short course 200 IM and several relays. Johns will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as an athlete.
Tom Johnson who was the head coach of UBC during this period will also be receiving an honour, being the only entry in the Builder category.
Johnson came to UBC in 1989 and completely revamped the program to build what is now the modern program at UBC. He served as a Canadian Olympic coach for 10 different Olympic teams.
Along with Johnson and Johns who will be receiving honours, Kelly Stefanyshyn will be inducted into the Athlete category.
The 10 UBC teams as well as the aforementioned athletes and coaches will be honoured at the Big Block Awards and Sports Hall of Fame dinner, which will take place on April 7 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
The coaches and swimmers will be in great company as members of the 1964-65 swim team, who won the first ever CIS Championships (then CIAU), are expected to be present. That team won the first ever national title in any sport for UBC, and set a tradition of excellence that has been present ever since.
The UBC mens team won their fifth consecutive CIS championships in the 2001-2002 season at home. Photo Via Rich Lam/UBC
The UBC women won the CIS Championships in Laval for the ninth year in a row making it the longest streak in CIS history. Photo Via Laval University
After their 2005-2006 win, they went on to win championships in the 2006-2007 season as well as the 2007-2008 season setting the winningest record at 11 consecutive championships.
Brian Johns had a storied CIS carrier which included 33 wins in 34 events. The one event that he didn’t win, he earned himself a silver. At the 2003 championships, Johns set the short course world record in the 400 IM clocking in at 4:02.72 for the win. Johns represented Canada at three Olympic Games, his best performance being a seventh place finish in the 400 IM at the Beijing Games. Photo Via Rich Lam/UBC
Former UBC Thunderbird Kelly Stefanyshyn also earned international medals under Johnson’s tutelage. She picked up a gold at the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Mantioba in the 100 back, a silver in the 4×100 medley relay, and a bronze in the 200 back. At the 1999 Short Course Worlds in Hong Kong she finished second in the 100 back and third in the 200. Photo Via Rich Lam/UBC