Canadian women’s water polo coach Begin resigns

Team Canada's Christine Robinson, assistant coach Dominique Dion, an unidentified trainer and Johanne Begin, watch as their teamates lose to Hungary 9-7. (Jacques Boissinot/CP)

OTTAWA — Johanne Begin has resigned as coach of Canada’s women’s water polo team, citing personal reasons for her decision.

Begin took over role in November 2014, helping the team reach a fourth-place finish in the FINA World League and a silver medal at the Pan American Games in Toronto.

“I am deeply saddened to see Johanne go and I know that she had nothing but the best intentions when she took on these responsibilities last year,” Water Polo Canada executive director Martin Goulet said in a statement. “It is very challenging to coach at that level, given the current landscape. You have to be ready for all that it entails.”

Begin, an Olympian and long-time Canadian national team athlete, previously worked as an assistant with the Canadian team between 2012 and 2014.

Justin Oliveira will take over as coach as Canada as it prepares for an Olympic qualification tournament in March.

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