After an outstanding swimming career in her own right, for many years now DuncanB次元官网网址檚 Leanne Sirup has led successful teams as the head coach of the Duncan Stingrays Swim Club. Her athletes have been recognized as being some of the top individual and team swimmers in their classes. This Sept. 30, however, Sirup was recognized not for the success of her swimmers, or of her team, but for herself as a coach.

The BC Swim Coaches Association honoured Sirup with the coveted B次元官网网址淩ubber Boot AwardB次元官网网址� as the top coach in the province during the Swim BC Awards Banquet on Sept. 30.

Just the second woman ever to have received the award since its inception roughly 30 years ago, what makes it special is that Sirup was selected for the honour by her fellow coaches B次元官网网址� close to 600 of them on 57 teams across B.C.

B次元官网网址淚t is a huge honour just to be recognized by my peers for the contribution that IB次元官网网址檓 able to provide to the community,B次元官网网址� Sirup said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a small community of coaches. We know each other and we see each other at meets. We know weB次元官网网址檙e all just down in the trenches at home doing the work, and we all have similar successes and challenges and similar efforts that we have to put in to produce the athletes that are coming through and performing, so itB次元官网网址檚 definitely a huge honour and I appreciate [it]. I so appreciate the respect that itB次元官网网址檚 given to me from my peers that, hey, youB次元官网网址檙e doing good.B次元官网网址�

Though thereB次元官网网址檚 no real tangible criteria a coach must meet to earn the title, B.C. coaches nominate peers who have stood out during the season and the Rubber Boot is given to the best of the best.

B次元官网网址淔or the coaches to recognize on the pool deck that I personally am making a significant change in our community, itB次元官网网址檚 a huge, huge honour.B次元官网网址�

And while the award goes to the best coach, Sirup said itB次元官网网址檚 the result of a total team effort.

B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 do what I do without the support of my team, the volunteers that support the swimmers, and the team,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his is not just a B次元官网网址榤eB次元官网网址� award this is definitely a Duncan Swim Team award and seeing that the province is recognizing that the Duncan Stingrays are moving forward and us as a team are being recognized by the rest of the province.B次元官网网址�

When Sirup first began coaching the Stingrays, it was a considered a small club with roughly 36 swimmers in the program.

B次元官网网址淲e have traversed into the medium-size program within the province with nearly 150 members, and so it does take a lot of attention and a lot of, I guess for lack of better description, a lot of love by everybody thatB次元官网网址檚 involved,B次元官网网址� she said.

As one of just four swimming-specialized educators with the National Coaching Certification Program, Sirup said she teaches coaches at every level that their job is not just to train athletes, but to support their families as well.

B次元官网网址淲e try to help the coaches understand that as coaches we coach, but we have to do it in support of the parents who are supporting their athletes as well,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淚f we have a challenge with the support system for the athlete, it comes out in the performance of that athlete. And so when the athleteB次元官网网址檚 doing so well, I think itB次元官网网址檚 just the testament to the support that we have from our volunteer parents in supporting the staff to let us do what we do.B次元官网网址�

Honestly, Sirup says, her athletes and their parents push her to be better.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so proud of the Stingrays team,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e striving for their goals, and with them being so dedicated I have no other choice than to be dedicated with them or else IB次元官网网址檓 doing them a disservice. And I give credit to our families. They are so good. TheyB次元官网网址檙e getting their kids to the pool on time and ready to be engaged. TheyB次元官网网址檙e making sure that theyB次元官网网址檙e having their proper meals so they have the energy that they need to train hard. TheyB次元官网网址檙e making sure that their lives are in order and theyB次元官网网址檙e staying on top of their studies and their chores and they are just producing good humans and it makes my job so much easier.B次元官网网址�

Always thinking of someone other than herself, Sirup hopes her award helps the Stingrays organization.

B次元官网网址淚 recognize that my name is a bit synonymous with the sport of swimming in the Cowichan Valley and my hope is that this exposure will bring greater exposure to the Duncan Swim Team and the stellar staff, volunteers, and membership that we have,B次元官网网址� Sirup said. B次元官网网址淲ithout their support, I could not do what I do. We want to do the best for the athletes in our program, and we know that it pays dividends for them not only for their performance but also for their futures.B次元官网网址�