Swimming Life Experience Series

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Three words that go a long way in the life of Sarah Steinke.

A swimmer and a coach, she’s also one who provides gripping advice to young athletes – and it’s not just focused on winning races.

At the only indoor swimming pool in the township of Uxbridge, a facility that goes by the name of Uxpool, there is a special feeling of unity. It’s especially clear when the discussion focusses on the Uxbridge Swim Club (USC).

That’s where Steinke enters the picture.

Coaching the club for the past three years, she has seen growth take off from 25 to 110 families. Zero swimmers of Provincial and National caliber three years ago to 15 in the spotlight in Ontario and three grabbing attention across the country. A shining star on the Uxbridge club is Chloe Walker, who is targeting the Olympics in 2028. Last year, she was ranked No. 1 in Canada at three freestyle events as a 13-year-old.

Humans, in many cases, are hardwired to look ahead. In sports, they fantasize about a championship and make bold plans to finish a workout. Peering into the future can often create a mystery.

Steinke has made the journey of life a great deal easier for youngsters who have adapted, and excelled, due to her guidance. Always one for praise, exhibiting signs of fascination and progress, she makes it quite clear to her athletes that there’s no final frontier.

For Steinke, realism is a core principle – it draws the line between current, and what lies ahead. Tips, trends, and rules combined with advice, experience and success can navigate what is often a rocky road ahead – and not just in the pool.

Steinke, often irked at what she sees and hears, makes it clear that women can be great coaches, too. They don’t just pop up because female representation is needed.

“To be a female lead in any sport profession comes with inherent challenges,” said Steinke. “Being quite literally overlooked on the pool deck, told a male would be better suited for (the) role or being asked by athletes, on trips, if I am the team manager or chaperone instead of being a coach.”

Steinke is a very successful coach and has proven it in many ways. She recently returned from the Persian Gulf coast and Qatar, not from a vacation but the World Aquatic championships in Doha.

She had been chosen to be the head coach for the swim team from Pakistan, along with her long time athlete Haseeb Syed Tariq, who was born in the South Asian country and holding the title of the top swimmer in that country. Steinke, while focusing on her duties in Uxbridge, would one day like to be involved with Canada’s National swim team.

For now, it’s focusing on trying to create a forever memory of confidence and happiness with those in her swim club.

While the modern technology of algorithms is used by many in the world of sport, as a procedure to solve specific problems and lead to better performances, Steinke, utilizing her knowledge in psychology gained as an honours graduate at York University, incorporates the power of belief in her coaching.

“I give my swimmers what they need to succeed,” said Steinke, who recently attended Swim Ontario’s Euro Tour in Luxembourg, as part of the Next Generation program. “The mental training, talking about things in their lives, a new set of knowledge, opportunities and building a culture that makes things possible.”

A strong supporter of Swim Ontario’s leadership, Steinke believes a great deal of progress has been made across the province in breaking barriers for women.

“With the continued support of our governing bodies, we can eventually start to motivate and inspire more young women to pursue a career in coaching - and see a larger representation of women on the national and international stage,” added Steinke.

Booming with enthusiasm, Steinke doesn’t take a back row when it relates to the power of belief. Her strengths bring out the best from others. Just ask Laura Lee, the president of the Uxbridge Swim Club.

“(Steinke) is an incredible coach and an amazing person,” said Lee, whose daughters are also coached by Steinke. “The positive influence, the emphasis on being committed and focused she gives to swimmers, the kindness in her demeanor.

“It’s all about long term development and has this recipe for success that focusses on abilities, skills and making people better. Quality over quantity, there is no pressure to just win.”

Steinke’s initiation to swimming is an interesting one.

In fact, it was at the age of four and while in kindergarten, that she swam for St. Brigid Elementary School. She claims to have been, back then, the youngest swimmer in the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Indeed, she finished a 25-metres freestyle race.

She was a former high school Athlete of the Year, also a competitive swimmer for Toronto’s CREST swim club and despite tearing the meniscus in her knee as a 15-year-old, returned to the pool and swam for York at the Ontario University Athletics championships. Before her selection to Uxbridge, Steinke coached various level swimmers at the North York Aquatic Club.

Steinke is a solid reason as to why her top competitive swimmers in Uxbridge have had perfect attendance at practice and training sessions.

“I care a great deal about every swimmer in the club – they’re my family,” she said, aware that families are honest with each other. “We educate parents on how to parent an athlete, have multiple meetings and never write a kid off. There are always challenges in life – and it’s the same in swimming. I deal with expectations and working to make swimmers better in life.”

In many cases, especially with young athletes, the future is too important to sit back and wait.

Every day allows an individual to make changes. Incorporating rules, goals, advice and common sense, Steinke has not only made huge strides but found comfort in helping her athletes making their galactic voyage in life so much easier – with dedication and confidence.

David Grossman is a veteran multi award-winning Journalist and Broadcaster with some of Canada’s major media, including the Toronto Star and SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN, and a Public Relations professional for 50+ years in Canadian sports and Government relations.