I have been coaching for more than 30 years, 25 years of them have been in Canada. I coached in many cities in Canada from the East to the West. I have experience coaching swimmers at all levels from beginners to swimmers qualifying to be part of Team Canada.

It is my second year to coach and lead the Thunder Bay Thunderbolts Swim Club. The team has a great history of creating exceptional swimmers. In my first year, Thunder Bay Thunderbolts received an award of 2023 Most Improved Team- Female Swimmers Ontario. My goal is to continue to add to this legacy and help swimmers reach their full potential. I have always believed that anyone can be a successful swimmer, no matter their talent - what matters is the swimmer’s optimism, discipline, and perseverance.

Swimming is more than just a sport. It teaches many valuable lessons that will apply later in life. That is why it’s important to me that swimmers have good habits not just in the pool but also out of the pool.

Let’s go Bolts!

  Ara is a hard-working, experienced coach who has participated in Swimming Canada National Camps; she has been invited and participated in many Ontario Swimming camps and developed the number one ten and under girls relay team in Canada while coaching in B.C. When she coached in Manitoba, Ara was selected for their Summer Games team. Ara brought professional consistent, and experienced coaching to the blue B squad at the Mississauga swim team, preparing many swimmers for Ontario Festivals. She had the top swimmers 12 and under and broke provincial records in this category in the Newfoundland province. Also, she has been coaching young swimmers and has specialized in the age group throughout her coaching career. Working as a 12-under age group, she has helped develop swimmers to be at the Eastern and National Championships throughout the years she coached. 

Ara is a  fully certified NCCP level one and working towards her level two.

Hello,

My Name is Benny Galati and I am one of the competitive coaches for the Thunderbolts. 

I was born with Cerebral Palsy and started swimming at age 11 as a form of physiotherapy after surgery on my legs.  I first swam for the Superior Athletics, my head coach at the time was James Hood.  James was also a coach for the Thunderbolts and must have seen potential as he encouraged me to join.

I was then coached by Janet Hyslop at which time I swam in the 1994 Worlds and the 1996 Paralympics.

I truly believe if it wasn’t for the encouragement and positivity and the wonderful coaching staff, I would have never achieved and experienced what I did in my swimming career. I hope I can encourage my swimmers to reach their full potential and have fun doing it. I can’t wait to see what the season brings.

I am honored and excited to be coaching for the Thunderbolts.

GO BOLTS!!

Zuriel is entering her second year of coaching with the Thunderbolts, bringing both passion and experience to the pool. A former Thunderbolts swimmer herself, she understands the team’s values and spirit from the inside out. Having completed her NCCP Level 1 certification, Zuriel continues to grow as a coach while inspiring the next generation of swimmers.

This season, she will continue working with the Spark and Lightning groups, where her knowledge, energy, and dedication have already made a big impact. Last year, her positive approach and ability to connect with swimmers helped many athletes build confidence and improve their skills.

We are excited to see her continue to develop as a coach during the 2025–2026 season, and we know she will keep motivating young swimmers to reach their full potential—both in and out of the pool.

Molly is beginning her second year of coaching with the Thunderbolts and is a valued member of our staff. A former Thunderbolts swimmer, she brings her own competitive background—having participated in multiple swim meets, including provincial championships in Manitoba—directly into her coaching.

Currently working toward her NCCP Level 1 certification, Molly is eager to keep developing her coaching skills while sharing her love for the sport. This season, she will continue to coach the Spark and Lightning groups, where her enthusiasm and supportive approach help swimmers build both skill and confidence.

We’re excited to see Molly continue her coaching journey in 2025–2026. Her energy, positivity, and firsthand experience as a competitor make her an inspiring role model for our young swimmers.

Lindsay is entering her second year coaching with the Thunder Bay Thunderbolts, bringing a wealth of competitive experience and a passion for inspiring young swimmers.

A lifelong Bolts swimmer, Lindsay represented Team Ontario at the 2017 Canada Summer Games and qualified for the Canadian Olympic Trials, competing in the 100/m butterfly, 200/m, and 400/m Individual Medley—setting a new club record along the way.

She earned a full scholarship to New Mexico State University, where she broke the 400/m IM school record, received All-WAC honours, and stood out as an outstanding newcomer in her conference.

Now on deck as a coach, Lindsay is working on her NCCP Level 1 certification and will be coaching the Lightning Group this season. She emphasizes technical skill, resilience, teamwork, and a strong work ethic, sharing her experience and love for the sport to motivate the next generation of Thunderbolts.

We are excited to welcome Karissa Manlow to our coaching staff for the 2025–2026 season. Karissa will be leading our Regional Group, bringing her passion, experience, and energy to help swimmers reach the next level in their development.

Karissa has been part of the competitive swimming world since 2013, both as an athlete with the Belleville Beast Swim Team and as a coach. Since 2021, she has coached swimmers of all ages, creating personalized training plans, teaching advanced technique, and supporting athletes in achieving their goals at practice and competition.

She is a certified National Lifeguard, Swimming Instructor, and NCCP Level 1 Swim Coach, with additional training in first aid, CPR, and leadership. Her bilingual skills in English and French, combined with her strong communication style, make her a highly approachable and motivating coach.

Karissa is known for her enthusiasm, reliability, and ability to inspire young athletes. With her leadership, our Regional Group swimmers will benefit from expert stroke development, endurance training, and mentorship as they prepare for higher levels of competitive swimming.

We are thrilled to have Karissa on deck this season and look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our swimmers and families.

Eden joins the Thunderbolts coaching team for the 2025–2026 season, bringing with her a strong background in aquatics and a true passion for working with young swimmers. She has spent several summers as a lifeguard and swim instructor, teaching everything from beginner levels to advanced lifesaving certifications. Eden also coached with the Collingwood Clippers Swim Club, where she guided swimmers ages 5–10 in developing their skills and confidence in competitive swimming.

This season, Eden will be working with the Olympic Sparks and Olympic Lightning groups, where her energy and expertise will help inspire our youngest Thunderbolts to build strong foundations and a love for the sport.

Currently pursuing her HBSc in Forestry at Lakehead University, Eden brings organization, enthusiasm, and a team-first attitude to the pool deck. She is also working on her NCCP coaching certification, which she is expecting to complete soon. In addition, she is certified as a National Lifeguard, Lifesaving Instructor, and Examiner, and holds multiple first aid and emergency response accreditations.

With her outgoing personality and love for coaching, Eden is excited to begin her journey with the Thunderbolts and help the next generation of swimmers grow in skill, confidence, and passion for the sport.

Emily is a former Thunderbolts swimmer with over six years in the program and is currently training in the High Performance group. She has competed successfully at numerous regional and provincial meets across Ontario, as well as high-level competitions in Winnipeg and at the Ontario Provincial Championships.

She is in the process of completing her NCCP Level 1 certification and will soon be a certified coach. Emily will be leading our Spark group, and her knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for the sport will be a great benefit to our developing swimmers.

We are proud to have Emily as part of our Thunderbolts coaching staff.