Xiaoping Lu

Xiaoping Lu passed away in his hometown from a heart attack while on vacation in China on July 18, 2019. He was 63 years old. Xiaoping was born on March 19, 1956 in Qiqihaer, China. His athletic talent was noticed early on in elementary school, and at the age of 16, he was recruited by the Navy Swimming Team to swim professionally. During his swimming years, Xiaoping excelled at the national level, where he won numerous medals at the Chinese National Games in the 200 and 400IM. It was unfornate that China did not compete in the Olympics during those years, so Xiaoping did not attend the Olympics Games. After he retired from swimming as an athlete, Xiaoping began his coaching career. During the next 7 years, Xiaoping coached numerous athletes to the National level. Xiaoping took the next decade to explore his interest in Finance. He worked at the People's Bank of China, where he was sent to work around the world. It was at this time that Xiaoping travelled the world. From large financial cities in Asia to Europe to Africa to South America and Oceania, he went to them all. The only large land masses he did not go to was probably Antarctica and the Arctic. He would come back with stories and knowledge, and he freely shared them with his family and friends. In 1995, he came to Canada, and it was in Vancouver where he decided that he had done enough travelling. He realized that his passions still lay in the sport that he loved- swimming. He picked up where he left off, and coached age group swimmers in Vancouver: first at Otters Swim Club in West Vancouver for a couple of years and later at Gators Swim Club in Vancouver for the next 22 years until his recent passing. It is difficult to describe in words in the impact Xiaoping had on each swimmer who he coached. He taught them to not only become great athletes, but great students and great people. He treated his swimmers like his children and grandchildren. He touched the souls of not only his swimmers, but their parents, and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. His smile and wave reached beyond the pool deck. He had many friends in the swimming community: lifeguards, program managers, coaches, regular public swimmers, and probably a lot more. Each of his swimmers and people who knew him has an unique story or stories of them together. His life will be remembered not for his accomplishments in life, which is already an amazing tale, but for the sheer number of lives that he touched and made a difference in around the world. Xiaoping is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lily, and their daughter Tiffany.