Canadian Olympic Legend and CEO of Swimming Australia Alex Baumann

When I was a kid my father wanted me to be Alex Baumann. In addition to his dominance in the 200 and 400 IM (winning gold and breaking world records in both events at the 1984 Olympic Games for Canada) Baumann was graceful and gracious. He epitomized the Olympic ideal of sportsmanship.  

 

Baumann has spent his adult life as sport administrator at the high levels from Canada to New Zealand, and, most recently, at the helm of Swimming Australia as their CEO.  He recently stepped down as CEO, a topic he covers candidly in this podcast. 

 

Baumann is as I remember him from the 1980s. We shared the deck at the first Pan Pac Championships in 1987. He's a nice guy--very easy to build a relationship with.  

 

Baumann's leadership in sport is covered here, an unpacking of the run-up to Swimming Australia's success at the 2020 Olympic Games. However, we do dive into his competitive history. Baumann experienced dramatic struggles, most of them off-camera. The fact that he was the Flag Bearer for his nation in 1984 and so successful in the pool is testament to his discipline.  He's a unique person well-worth your time, and I hope you enjoy this podcast. 

 

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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com