Rowing Canada is parting ways with the heads of both its men’s and women’s programs in the wake this summer’s disastrous showing at the Rio Olympics.
Martin McElroy is leaving his post as men’s performance director after 3 1/2 years, while John Keogh, who has been with the women since 2010, is returning home to take a job with Rowing Australia.
READ MORE: Canada gets 5th place in women’s rowing eight
The announcements were made on Rowing Canada’s website late Wednesday.
Canada’s disappointing regatta in Brazil included just one medal – a silver from Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee’s in the women’s lightweight double sculls.
READ MORE: Rio 2016: Canada fails to make the podium in men’s coxless four rowing
Rowing Canada disbanded the popular men’s eight boat after finishing second at the 2012 Olympics, splitting those resources between the men’s four and the men’s quadruple sculls in hopes of doubling the country’s chances at a medal and the subsequent funding from the government-backed Own The Podium program.
But the heavily criticized plan backfired spectacularly in Rio as the men’s four finished sixth in its six-boat final, while the men’s quad wound up eighth after failing to even make its medal race.
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