I am pleased to announce the Master Ducks Coaching Staff for the 2020 – 2021 Season! We are very fortunate to have extremely experienced and accomplished coaches who are dedicated to supporting your swimming goals.
Kelly Hughes – Head Coach
Edit Varga – Assistant Coach
Paolina Allan – Assistant Coach – Triathlon & Open Water Specialist
Dan Thompson – Guest Coach
Kelly Hughes – Head Coach
I have been fully immersed in coaching competitive swimming for over 20 years; 18 of those in the Town of Aurora. I was a proud member of the Master Ducks coaching staff for 6seasons (2001 – 2007), Head Coach of Ducks Swimming youth program for 5 seasons (2013-2019), Head Age Group Coach with the Whitchurch-Stouffville Swim Club, and most recently an assistant with the Special Ducks program. During my tenure as Head Coach of Ducks Swimming the club’s membership grew by 60% in a five year period. We also attained elite age group level performances, supporting swimmers to the podium at Festival, Provincial, Eastern Canadian and Provincial Open Water events, as well as qualification to compete at Senior Trials. I am a former competitive swimmer, National Team Member, and I represented Canada at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, 1978 World Championships and 1979 Pan American Games.
My involvement in competitive swimming has rewarded me with some great moments both in the pool and on the deck. I am very excited to partner with each of you and move forward to an exciting new chapter in my / OUR swimming journey. I will be on deck, fully engaged, and committed to building a program that delivers quality and professionalism to all members. I look forward to working with you and assisting you with your personal goals in the pool, from the most fundamental skills to elite Masters performance.
Edit Varga – Assistant Coach
Edit was born in Hungary. She graduated from the Physical Education University of Budapest as a Swim Coach and received her Degree in Sports Management from the University of Semmelweis. She is an outgoing, outspoken competitor and she holds the Level 2 NCCP certification in Canada and working on her Level 3 this season.
Edit has over 20 years of experience in the competitive swimming environment. Her swimmers have earned multiple provincial medals; they broke more than 100 club records, qualified for Canadian Junior National Championship and won medals at the Ontario Open Water Championship.
Edit served as the Head Age Group Coach at the Ducks Swimming Club in Aurora for 7 seasons, and coached for the Master Ducks for 3 seasons.
Currently Edit is member of the coaching staff of the Newmarket Stingrays.
“I believe in finishing things through and completion of goals you have set and then learning to understand, appreciate and eventually love the process so you can apply these principles into everything you do in life. Always give it your best, set goals to achieve, yet take it one day at a time.”
Paolina Allan – Assistant Coach – Triathlon & Open Water Specialist
Paolina Allan, a former professional Triathlete. A late bloomer who found her form in her 30’s, She has raced all Over North America and Europe. Representing Canada at the ITU long distance Championships. She has qualified as a Professional Triathlete 3 times for the Ironman World championships in Kona. In 2009 Paolina was the Triathlon Canada Elite Long Course Triathlete of the Year. Locally she is a multiple-time winner of the Multi-sport Triathlon Series overall standings, she still holds several course records in Ontario. Paolina was inducted into the Aurora Sport Hall of Fame in 2018 for her accomplishments in Long Distance Triathlon. She continues to pursue her road cycling career; she works with Multi-Sport Triathlon launching new triathlon stars, she owns her own personal training business and has been the strength coach for Ducks Swimming for the past 3 years.
Dan Thompson – Guest Coach
A fan favourite, Dan Thompson promises to make Guest Coaching appearances. Dan loves to swim, is a tremendous supporter of the Master Ducks and will be inspiring all of us to embrace the joy of swimming whether it’s for fitness, fun or achieving personal bests.
A graduate of the University of Toronto Dan spent seven years on Canada’s National swim team. In 1983, he tied the world short-course record in the 100 metre butterfly and set the Canadian and Commonwealth long course records in this event. During his career, Dan set 14 butterfly records; 8 Canadian, 3 Commonwealth, 3 Commonwealth Games. His international accomplishments include the 1977 World Student Games (2 silver medals), 1979 Pan-am Games (2 silver medals), 1978 Commonwealth Games (2 Gold Medals), and the 1982 Commonwealth Games (1 gold medal).
Dan was National Team Captain from 1978 to 1981, Captain of the 1980 Olympic Swim Team, board member of Swim Canada, member of the Canadian Olympic Associations Athlete Council, Canadian Olympic Association board member, Co-Founder Vice Chair of the Canadian Athletes Association. In 2005 Dan became the President of Swimming Canada for four years and in 2012 joined the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario as a Director.
After retiring from swimming, Dan ran into Nancy Black at Longo’s who talked him into joining the Ducks. He now swims Masters and has set a few records along the way!
In September of 2017 Dan became the new President of Swim Ontario and is now Chair of the Swim Ontario Masters committee.