John's Legends Swim Club, originally NAAC, the Newfoundland Aquarena Aquatic Club, was founded in 1978 following the construction of the Aquarena and the city's hosting of the 1977 Canada Summer Games. The club developed quickly under the direction of its first head coach Tom Arusso and within two seasons Paula Kelly had been named to Canada's 1980 Olympic team. Over the years the club has continued to be a leader on the provincial swimming scene. Athletes such as Iain Tennent (1993 Canada Games gold and silver medallist), Adrian Costello (1993 National Youth team member), Suzanne Drodge (1995 Junior National Champion), Steven Thornhill (2001 Junior National Bronze medalist), Owen Daly (2011 Age Group National Gold Medalist), Catherine Silotch (2011 Age Group National Gold Medalist), and Noah Cumby (2017 National Silver Medalist and 2018 Jr. Pan Pacs Team Member) have helped to keep the Legends name apart the fabric of Swimming Canada. The Club is affiliated with Swimming Newfoundland and Labrador and with the National Sport Governing body Swimming/Natation Canada. A hard working volunteer Board made up of the parents of Legends swimmers provides governance to the Legends Swim Club. The Board meets regularly and parents are encouraged to become involved in the club. The Legends offer programs for a variety of ages and skill levels, from our pre-competitive Little Legends squads (young, inexperienced, and novice swimmers) to our National squad (dedicated athletes competing at a national level). The Legends also have a proud history of swimmers continuing their swimming journey as student-athletes in Canadian U-Sport and American NCAA varsity programs, a testament to the depth of our programming. Legends swimmers compete against swimmers of the same age and ability levels across the province and across the country. New swimmers may choose not to compete until the parents, coach and swimmer agree that the individual is ready. The Legends Swim Club currently trains out of three pools, the Aquarena, the Memorial University pool, and City of St. This offers an excellent combination of training facilities for all club members. The Legends Swim Club employs a full-time Head Coach, two full-time Assistant Head Coaches, and fifteen part-time Assistant Coaches. Our coaches are well trained and motivated inlldividuals eager to help each child strive to achieve his/her fullest potential.
