Liz Warden brings a wealth of experience and passion for the sport of swimming to her new role at the Owen Sound Aquatic Club.

Liz’s swimming journey began at the age of six with the Scarborough Swim Club, encouraged by her mother, Muriel, who was both a coach and an accomplished open-water champion. She trained and competed with Scarborough through high school before moving on to the University of Toronto, where she swam under the guidance of renowned coach Byron MacDonald.

At U of T, Liz had a standout varsity career. She was undefeated in all OUA races throughout her five  years and never lost a race at the CIS Championships in the 400 IM. As captain of the women’s team, she earned recognition as a four-time All-Canadian and was named Canadian University Athlete of the Year in 2002.

On the international stage, Liz represented Canada for a decade as a member of the National Team. Her career highlights include winning a silver medal in the 400 IM at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, a bronze medal in the 200 IM at the 2001 World University Games, and competing for Canada at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where she finished 11th in the 400 IM, 15th in the 200 IM, and 18th in the 200 backstroke. She was ranked as high as 5th in the world in the 200 IM.

Liz’s coaching career began as a teenager with the Olympic Way program in Scarborough, introducing young swimmers to competitive training. After retiring from competition, she coached age-group swimmers with the Toronto Swim Club while also teaching full-time with the Toronto District School Board. She finds great fulfillment in helping young swimmers build skills, work toward their goals, and discover the fun of the sport through dedication and teamwork.

Now living in Kemble, Liz is a proud mom of two boys who attend school in Owen Sound. She is excited to bring her knowledge, energy, and love of the sport to the Owen Sound Aquatic Club and  looks forward to helping swimmers of all levels reach their full potential.