Rowing Canada is parting ways with the heads of both its men's and women's programs in the wake of this summer's disastrous showing at the Rio Olympics.

Martin McElroy is leaving his post as men's performance director after 3 1/2 years, while John Keogh, who has been with the women since 2010, is returning home to take a job with Rowing Australia.

The announcements were made on Rowing Canada's website late Wednesday.

Canada's disappointing regatta in Brazil included just one medal -- a silver from Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee in the women's lightweight double sculls.

Rowing Canada disbanded the popular men's eight boat after finishing second at the 2012 Olympics, splitting those resources between the men's four and the men's quadruple sculls in hopes of doubling the country's chances at a medal and the subsequent funding from the government-backed Own The Podium program.

But the heavily criticized plan backfired spectacularly in Rio as the men's four finished sixth in its six-boat final, while the men's quad wound up eighth after failing to even make its medal race.

McElroy, who replaced Mike Spracklen after the London Games, said the program is on the right track despite the failure this summer.

"It's a big challenge to do things differently, needing the same resilience and toughness as we expect from Canadian athletes," he said in the Rowing Canada statement. "I'm proud of many of the changes that we made. Sometimes it takes someone new and a new approach to renew the energy in the fight. I am OK with that -- I made my contribution."

Along with that silver four years ago, the men's eight won gold in 1984, 1992 and 2008.

The women's eight, which also won silver in London, medalled at the last three world championships, but ended up fifth in Rio.

The departures of McElroy and Keogh come during a time of uncertainty at Rowing Canada. CEO Donna Atkinson is set to leave her post in January, and whoever takes over will have to make a decision on the future of high performance director Peter Cookson, who steered the men's program away from the eight.

Own the Podium provided Rowing Canada more than $17 million in funding -- the most of any summer sport -- in the lead up to Rio after those two medals in the eight at the London Olympics.

The athletes in Brazil said at the time they were keenly aware a chunk of that money could dry up if they didn't perform.

"We know what's at stake when we're out there," Conlin McCabe said after the final of the men's four last month. "We're trying to row our best race for ourselves as well, but we know that rowing in Canada depends on it, also, because that's the way sport in Canada works with Own the Podium.

"We know that we have to get medals as a team if we want to keep getting the funding we've been getting. I guess, yeah, now I am worried to see what happens with Rowing Canada.