Alex Gardiner was tapped Tuesday to lead Canada’s track and field team toward the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Gardiner, a longtime track and field coach and administrator, replaces Les Gramantik, who will take on a newly created role as head coach of Canada’s High Performance Training Centre based in Calgary.
“I am excited and privileged to be able to return to Athletics Canada,” said Gardiner, who was Athletics Canada’s head coach at the 1991, 1993 and 2003 world championships, and the 2004 Summer Olympics.
“Never before in my 30-plus years in sport has there been this much opportunity and optimism fuelling our drive to the podium.”
Gardiner, who takes on his new role beginning on Jan. 1, 2009, was most recently the Canadian Olympic Committee’s senior technical director of Olympic programs.
“My time with the COC has been remarkable,” said Gardiner. “I’ve had an unparalleled chance to work with some of the greatest coaches, scientists, medical staff, leaders and national sport federations in the world. It provided me with the unique opportunity to learn every day. I’m especially fortunate to have long time colleague Les Gramantik with our team to help guide us through the next phase of our growth.”
In addition to head coach and chief technical officer duties with Athletics Canada, Gardiner, a Winnipeg native, has previously held the roles of general manager of the National Sports Centre in Winnipeg (1997-2002); Athletics Canada executive (1994-1997) and chief executive officer and director of technical programs (1992-94).
Gramantik has been Canada’s national coach since 2006. He also led the track and field team at the 1999, 2001 and 2007 world championships, the 2003 and 2007 Pan American Games, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and this past summer at the Olympics in Beijing.
“Following the Beijing Games, the organization reviewed the previous quadrennial,” said Joanne Mortimore, Athletics Canada chief executive officer.
“The focus is to increase the current thrust of strong international results to ensure that the organization continues down the path of achieving sustainable high performance results.”