It is with great sadness that we announce today that Coach Qlasse Dahlquist died in Stockholm, Sweden on 17 January 2020. He was 63 years old.
Qlasse started training with Kanaan Simsällskap when he was 11. He started his coaching career in 1972 with Strängnäs Simsällskap where he worked for 40 years. An energetic and dedicated coach, he was certified as a swim instructor in 1990 and eventually became Head Coach at Kanaan Simsällskap.
Qlasse taught swimming at SISC for three years and was much loved by his students. He was also Head Coach for the club’s Vattenstart program that teaches swimming to asylum seekers and an expert in Shane Gould’s Brainswim technique.
In total, Qlasse’s swimming career spanned about 50 years.
“We’re all shocked and our entire team at SISC mourns the tragic loss of Qlasse. Our thoughts are with his family,” says Oxana Lundström, co-founder of Stockholm International Swimming Club.
“Qlasse was a highly popular coach who brought tremendous leadership, energy and passion to every lesson,” says Anna Kazakova Lindegren, co-founder of Stockholm International Swimming Club.
“As Head Coach for our Vattenstart swimming program for asylum seekers, he taught many people the lifesaving skill of swimming, for which he will be fondly remembered. And as an esteemed colleague and friend, he will be missed terribly,” she continues.
SISC has made a donation to Simklubben H2Os Insamlingsstiftelse in Qlasse’s memory.