This year will mark Brian Johns' 14th year at UBC, his third as the swimming team's assistant coach and first in a full-time coaching position . He is one of the most decorated swimmers in UBC history having won five CIS national titles as well as representing Canada at three Olympic games.
A graduate of Richmond, BC's Hugh McRoberts Secondary school, Johns came to UBC in 2000 and joined the swim team in the early stages  of its 10 year reign as national champions. He was fresh off his first trip to the Olympics in Sydney in 2000. As an 18 year old he finished 15th overall in the 200m individual medley and was part of Canada's relay team that finished 7th in the 4x200m freestyle relay.Â
After helping the Thunderbirds to national titles in 2001, 2002, and 2003, Johns took time off from school to focuse on swimming. He competed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens finishing 15th in the 400m individual medley and helping Canada to a fifth place result in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
He returned to UBC in 2005, helping the 'Birds to two more national titles in 2006 and 2007. In 2008 in Beijing he made the Olympic final in the 400m individual medley, touching the wall in seventh place. He also was part of the fifth place 4x200m freestyle relay team. In total he spent 14 years with the national team.
Other highlights of his career included being named the CIS Male Athlete of the Year in 2002 and holding the world record in the 400m individual medley (short course).
Brian recently was selected as a coach for Team BC at the 2013 Canada Games, as well as an apprentice coach for the World Junior Championship team.Â
He graduated from UBC with Bachelor of Human Kinetics in 2009 and a Masters of Kinesiology in 2013.
Brian's brother Kevin also swam for UBC from 1997-2002 and graduated with a Doctorate in Biological Science.
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