Our Coaches
The success of our athletes isn’t a matter of luck. It is the product of an outstanding work ethic, aided by coaches who embody this commitment to excellence and work to bring out the best in their students. With numerous accolades and awards under their belts—our coaching team has over 60 years of combined experience both diving and coaching at provincial, national, and international levels—diving is their passion, and they are continually striving to benefit Dive Calgary athletes.
Igor Paskov
Head Coach
Igor has been a diving, gymnastics and trampoline coach for over 40 years.
Growing up in the USSR, he was an age-group national champion. His coaching career started with 11 years at the Sport Club Dynamo in Minsk. Further development included obtaining a M.A. in Physical Education and Sport, and a Massage Therapy Certificate.
Igor then moved with his family to Israel to broaden his experience, and focus on trampoline, gymnastics, and stunts for films.
In 2004, he brought his passion for diving to Canada.
Coaching Highlights:
Canadian National Diving Team Coach, attended numerous international Diving World Services and Diving Grand Prix Events.
Coaching Blythe Hartley at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Ashley Buchanan
Coach and Administrator
Ashley is a Dive Calgary alumni, having previously been a diver with the club from the very late 90s to the early 2000s. Only a few short years later, she began her coaching career, mentoring under Igor Paskov in the very beginning. In the 8 years spent with the club previously as a coach, Ashley specialized in the younger age groups and coached provincial champions as well as national champions and national medalists. During that time, she was also lucky enough to work with a lot of great coaches across Canada and gain a breadth of knowledge she carries with her today. After taking 7 years off to start a family of her own, she has gained great new skills and is now back, ready as ever, to develop not only the young athletes in the club but also develop the program into an amazing, dynamic, high performance, inclusive environment it can and will be.
Rommel Kong
Coach
Rommel competed internationally, both in gymnastics and diving, for the Philippines from 1985–1995 and coached their national diving team from 1997–2008. He also served as a FINA diving judge in the Philippines from 2003–2008.
In Canada, Rommel has also volunteered as a coach with the Rocky Mountain Diving Club. His expertise as a spotter assisting divers in safety harnesses during dry land somersaulting and twisting exercises, skills which he developed through years of training in China, is a great asset to Dive Calgary.
Satomi Brandt
Coach
Bio coming soon
Ruby Tang
Coach and Administrator
Ruby became a member of the Hong Kong National Gymnastics Team when she was 9, but was forced to withdraw from the sport after suffering a severe injury. She took up diving at the age of 14 and won several gold medals at the Hong Kong Age Group and Open Diving Competitions between 2003 and 2005.
Ruby loves sharing her experience in sports with young children, inspiring their confidence and appreciation for discipline. She has completed her NCCP Competition-Intro certification and working on her NCCP Competition-Development, and continues to upgrade her coaching skills through practice and interaction. Ruby holds a bachelor degree of Sports and Recreation Management degree.