Dinos' Brown retires from competitive swimming

CALGARY - Mike Brown of Perth, Ont., one of Canada's most successful international swimmers over the past decade, announced today that he will be retiring from competitive swimming.

Brown, 25, spent eight years on the national team, which were highlighted by his great performances in the men's 200-metre breaststroke. He holds the Canadian record in the event at 2:08.84, which he set in a fourth place finish at the Olympic Games last year.

Mike spent the 2008-09 season with the varsity team at the University of Calgary, setting a CIS championship record with his gold medal performance in the 200-metre breaststroke with a short course time of 2:07.58.

"It was a tough and long decision to end my swimming career," said Brown. "It's the biggest decision I've had to make so far. Swimming has been my life for 17 years. I'm extremely proud of all my accomplishments in the sport."

Besides his exceptional Olympic swim in Beijing, Brown has posted numerous career highlights. At the 2005 world championships in Montreal he won the silver medal in the 200 breaststroke and earned bronze and gold in the same event at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games respectively. He was also sixth at the 2004 Athens Olympics

"It's tough to nail down one highlight," said Brown. "To win a world silver in front of a Canadian crowd was a huge moment for me. But my two Olympic appearances are probably at the top. That's what we all strive for and to represent my country twice at the Olympics and get those great results are something I'm extremely proud of."

Brown started a new job this week as an agent with Colliers International, a commercial real estate company based in Calgary. He says the lessons he learned in swimming such as hard work and commitment are going to have a strong influence on the next chapter in his life.

"There comes a point when your passion moves on to the next phase in your life," said Brown. "I'm really interested in the business world and I'm the kind of guy who wants to capitalize on that kind of opportunity. I've been swimming a long time and it's basically time to move on."

Brown's swimming career was far from a smooth ride and he knows the effectiveness of perseverance. He battled injuries and after his world championship silver in 2005 he was mired in a slump that lasted up until a record performance at the 2008 Olympic trials.

"I wasn't born an Olympic athlete," said Brown. "There were ups and downs all over the place but I was committed to my swimming career and surrounded myself with successful people. Pushing and persevering are what sport is all about and that's what I had to do those two years prior to Beijing to get back to where I was and then surpass that."

Born and raised in Perth, Ont., about an hour from Ottawa, Brown has fond memories for what set the base for a successful swimming career.

"My parents come to mind first," he said. "They were always there for me, in the good times and hard ones. Learning to swim in Perth was just a lot of fun and it had to do with the community. It was like being part of a family. I don't think it's a fluke there were four Olympians from Perth in 2008."

After graduating from high school, Brown swam on a sports scholarship at the University of Minnesota before heading to the University of Calgary to train under Jan Bidrman just before the 2004 Olympics. He has remained there ever since.

"Mike was always able to step it up when it really mattered," said Bidrman. "He was a great leader both by example through his work ethic and helping and encouraging other club members. He really exemplified what a high performance athlete is all about."

Brown plans to keep his fingerprints on the sport.

"I love my sport and I'll always be on a pool deck somewhere and involved somehow."

Fans wishing to contact Mike can do so on his personal website gomikebrown.com.

A special presentation will be in his honor during the World Championships Swimming Trials in Montreal, July 8-11.

Source:

Martin Richard
Communications Director
Swimming Canada