HALIFAX - Canada could boost the number of Olympians it sends to the podium with increased federal funding, improved training facilities and more trained coaches, Canadian swim legend Alex Baumann said Saturday.
Baumann, the head of the Road to Excellence program, which aims to increase Canada's medal count at the Summer Games, said the country needs to step up if it wants success on the world stage.
A similar program, Own the Podium, is in place to help athletes prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
"I do believe we have a long way to go, but there are some positive elements in the system,'' Baumann said in a keynote speech at a Canadian Olympic Committee meeting in Halifax.
"My philosophy has always been athlete-centred, coach-driven, service-supported, but performance-based.''
The largest obstacle facing Canada, said Baumann, is the lack of an integrated system that gives coaches and athletes of all levels access to similar support services and development opportunities.
A sustainable, co-ordinated system would ensure talented winter and summer athletes are not lost in the shuffle, he said.
Baumann said Canada also needs more top-notch sporting facilities where athletes can train.
"Now what we have is a national policy that relies on hosting international and national events to get facilities,'' he said.
"There has to be some kind of program, not only by the federal government but by the provinces as well, to help build facilities.''
Baumann, 43, made headlines at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics after nabbing gold in the 200- and 400-metre individual medley events in world-record times.
Baumann was then named Canada's male athlete of the year by The Canadian Press, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
After retiring from swimming, Baumann moved to Australia. Most recently, he served as executive director for the Queensland Academy of Sport, where he oversaw hundreds of Australian athletes in various sports.
Baumann, who moved to Ottawa with his family in December, said he was disappointed with the lack of funding for summer athletes in last month's federal budget.
The Canadian Olympic Committee had been hoping for $30 million for its Road to Excellence program.
The budget boosted funding for athletes preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, but did not include any money for summer athletes.
Canada ranked 19th at the last the 2004 Athens Olympics with 12 medals.
The team captain of Canada's senior water polo team said extra cash from Ottawa would create more opportunities to travel and compete against international teams.
As it stands, Krystina Alogbo said she is forced to play against her own teammates or members of junior teams.
The funding "would mean a lot,'' said Alogbo, 21. "We could go to Europe and play against bigger teams, better teams.''
Alogbo said additional money could also help athletes who must relocate for training.
"They have to pay for an apartment, a car,'' she said. "It's important for athletes to not have to worry about financial issues and just have to worry about the sport.''
The committee plans to push for more money, but Baumann said Canadian athletes will work with what the money they have.
"There is momentum and will to change the system. ... There is a renewed focused of excellence in this country,'' he said.
"It's OK to try to be the best in the world.''
