Aquatics Canada – (Calgary, Alta. May 7, 2018) – Aquatics Canada Aquatiques is pleased to announce the appointment of Margie Schuett as Chef de Mission and Michelle Comeau as Assistant Chef de Mission, for the 18^th FINA World Aquatic Championship taking place July 12 – 28, 2019 in Gwangju Korea. 
 
Margie Schuett is Canada’s Chef de Mission for a record breaking eight times at the FINA World Aquatic Championship.  She has held a number of volunteer staff positions for a combined twenty-one Olympics, Pan Am Games, World Championship and Commonwealth Games.  She was the Chef de mission of the 1998 Commonwealth Games Canadian Team, Vice President of Commonwealth Games Canada for over twenty years and has also served on the Board of Directors of Artistic swimming Canada and Diving Canada. She is a founding board member and Vice Chair for Motivate Canada’s Board of Directors.
 
Michelle Comeau is one of Canada’s leading volunteers in amateur sport.  Having been the Assistant Chef at the 17^th FINA World Championships in Budapest as well as a member of the Mission Staff at three Olympic Games and three Pan American Games. Michelle has a proven track record of experience and knowledge in managing a team at the most elite level of sport competition.  Her extensive professional background in sport and working with athletes, national and provincial sport organizations as well as sponsors has given her a global perspective on running an operations unit for a world championship.
 
 “Having volunteers like Margie and Michelle, that can manage the affairs of the team on the ground as well as the planning that must be done in advance, is an essential piece of the puzzle in helping each national team to reach their objectives.  We are indeed very fortunate to have two of Canada’s most experienced sport volunteers managing the team operations at this very important event”, said Lisa Schott, President of Aquatics Canada. 
 
The 18^th FINA World Aquatic Championships will gather over 2,400 athletes representing 204 countries in diving, swimming and open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo and will be viewed by over 520 million people around the world.
 
Background on the FINA World Championships:

• The FINA World Championships were launched in Belgrade (YUG) in 1973, with the participation of 696 athletes and 47 countries. 
• Canada stands in 11^th place in all-time medal count since 1973 after the 2017 World Championships with a total medal count of 111 (21 Gold; 43 Silver and 47 Bronze).

 
For more information:
 
Contact Lisa Schott, lschott@shaw.ca 
President Aquatics Canada Aquatiques
www.aquaticscanadaaquatiques.ca