McKeever announced his departure on March 30 in a post on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, saying “it has been decided for me that my time at Nordiq Canada is over.”
CANMORE — Robin McIver is no longer Canada's cross-country skiing coach.
The former Olympian and Canmoret have long since exited his position as Team Canada's top coach, parting ways with the national organization with the Winter Olympics looming in less than two years.
McIver announced his departure on March 30 in a post on Instagram And Xpreviously tweeted, saying: “It has been decided for me that my time at Nordiq Canada is over.”
He continued the post by sharing the highlights of his career along with words of encouragement for the team.
It has been decided for me that my time at Nordiq Canada is over. It has been an amazing journey dedicating my life to this sport: chasing my performance goals as an Olympic athlete. Leading my brother Brian to 10 Paralympic medals.
– Robin Mckeever MSM OLY PLY (@robinmckeever) March 30, 2024
“My last piece of advice: Believe in yourselves, together as a team, you are stronger than you are individually in this environment. Attitude is everything,” McIver said.
Before assuming the position of head coach of the national team, he led the Paralympic program, which achieved 36 Paralympic medals and 29 World Championship medals in 12 years. He also mentored his brother, one of Canada's most accomplished athletes Brian McIverto 10 Paralympic medals.
Brian McIver has been the Para Nordic coach for Team Nordic Canada since 2022 after retiring at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Robin McIver originally took over the head coaching position in April 2022He was scheduled to coach the athletes on their journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Multiple attempts to reach McKeever via Prospects It was unsuccessful.
Kate Boyd – Canada's first high-performance female cross country coach -We parted too Nordic Canada after eight years of participation. She started as an athlete development coach for the Para Nordiques, which eventually led to being a high-performance manager for the Para Nordiques.
“It is with sadness that I share with you today that Robin McIver and Kate Boyd have left Nordiques Canada and will no longer continue their duties as National Team Head Coach and High Performance Director for the Nordic Region,” he said. Nordic Canada in a press release dated March 21.
“I know you[‘ll] Join me in thanking Robin and Kate for their long service and wishing them exciting new endeavors in their careers. They have both played an integral role in the well-being and success of their athletes throughout their careers with Nordiq Canada, and we are extremely grateful for their passionate contribution to the organization and our ski community.
Nordiq Canada CEO Stephane Barrett hung up the call Prospects When it arrived on Monday (April 8th). He later declined to comment, saying that the organization's policy regarding human resources matters was not to comment.
“It is our policy not to comment on human resources matters publicly beyond our relevant news release, when appropriate.”
In Nordiq Canada's press release, they said that with the change they will review the way they “deliver services” while maintaining their commitment to athletes.
“We are 100 percent committed to supporting athletes. We will work with athletes, coaches, partners and staff to review and confirm the transition plan and our long-term vision.”
It also says this change “provides an opportunity” to make various improvements with the Olympic and Paralympic teams, before announcing that former 2006 Olympian, Chris Jefferies, is set to take on the role of High Performance Director for both the Olympic and Paralympic programmes. .
At the World Cup Cross Country in Canmore, the highest-placed Canadian was Antoine Cyr who finished 16th in the 20 km mass start. Soon after, McIver's son, Xavier McIver, finished 19th in the classic sprint. The majority of Canadians ended up in their 30s and 50s. At the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Canadians captured eight medals in cross-country skiing, five of which were gold.
Jeffries was the head coach of the Foothills Nordic Club from 2007 to 2010 before serving as the high-performance program director for 11 years at the Alberta World Cup. McIver was also the head coach of the Foothill Nordic Club from 2003-2007.
