On Thursday, some Whitehorse Glacier Bears swimmers took to the deck of the Canada Games Centre pool holding signs that said: “Bring Malwina Back.” On Friday, a large contingent of the swimmers was once again on the deck of the pool calling for their coach, Malwina Bukszowana.

A letter submitted to the WGB board of directors by some concerned parents read:

“We are asking for stability and safety for our head coach and all of our coaching team and request an immediate board meeting with parents to be set up and facilitated by an outside party. It is evident that our WGB Code of Conduct and Conflict Resolution Policy has not been honoured and we have a Head Coach who feels a lack of respect, unsupported and in conflict at her workplace.”

The parents were not granted that emergency meeting and the details surrounding Bukszowana departure are still unclear. What is clear is that the swimmers would like their coach back. This is what they had to say.

“Some stuff has gone down and our coach has now resigned and we would all really like her back,” said Alexa Mannen. “We really want her back and I think you guys (the board) need to look at what she has done for all of us swimmers in the last four years.”

Mannen said Bukszowana was a tough coach but she made everybody improve.

“If you want to work with kids and be a coach you have to be strong-willed,” said Mannen.

“You can’t go easy on the kids or they are not going to improve. That’s why I love swimming. The coaches are there to push you. There is always room to improve. That’s what I love about Malwina she is always there to make you want to be better.”

Other swimmers echoed the same sentiment as Mannen.

“She always pushed you out of your comfort zone and made you want to be your best,” said Amelia Ford.

“She was just so good,” said Amelia Barrault. “We had a really good connection but she always pushing us to be better. Sometimes she was hard on us but that was good. She was an amazing coach.”

“She’s the best coach we have ever had,” said Lauren Faulkner. “She has always pushed us to be our best.”

Some of the swimmers had a message for Bukszowana.

“Everyone here supports and love her and even if they don’t support her we all loved her,” said Ava Dedon.”

“Most of the swimmers want her back and that she means a lot to a lot of people,” said Khushi Brar.

“Malwina we are fighting for you and we really want you back,” said Jaime Chownchaikel

The swim season is coming to an end with swimmers about to head to their final meets.

“It’s not going to be the same competing without her,” said Mannen.

“I was really hoping for her take me to the Western Canada Summer Games,” said Berrault.

“I had a lot of goals that I was hoping she would be there for them.”

“It would be a lot better to have her than not,” said Thomas Gishler.

The swimmers believed that the board has heard their message.

“I hope they have,” said Chownchaikel. “I think they understand our point of view and I really hope they do something about it. It’s all about the swimmers.”

“I think they heard it, they did,” said Brar. “I think they will want to change and help with us. I’d tell them that we want our coach back.”