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Create AccountThe afternoon is young, but the fan club is already gathering in the downtown haze. "We came for a week on vacation," says Pat Heckstall, lingering outside the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts Building where O. J. Simpson is on trial for murder.
Mario Deslauriers, equestrian (b at Venise en Québec, Qué 23 Feb 1965). He began riding at a young age, coached by his father, accomplished horseman Roger Deslauriers. In 1984, at the age of 19, Deslauriers became the youngest rider to ever win the annual World Cup Final, a record he still holds.
Winnie Roach-Leuszler, swimmer (b at Port Credit, Ont 3 Feb. 1926; d at Surrey, BC 1 May 2004). Leuszler was the first Canadian to swim the English Channel. As a child she excelled in a wide range of sports both on land and in water but swimming soon emerged as her special talent.
Every conversation with Canadian mogul queen Jennifer Heil heralds a new adventure: surfing, Third World development, politely picking the pockets of Canada's business elite, rock climbing, jewellery design - and that thing she does so well with a pair of skis and a total absence of fear.
Mary Spencer, boxer, model, humanitarian (born 12 December 1984 in Wiarton, ON). Mary Spencer is one of Canada's premier boxing champions, holding eight national titles, five Pan-American titles, and three world titles.
Donald Graham Smith, swimmer (b at Edmonton, Alta 9 May 1958). A breaststroke specialist, Graham Smith became the youngest Canadian male to win 2 national titles in one meet, winning both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events in 1974.
Lester Patrick (born at Drummondville, Qué 31 Dec 1883; d at Victoria 1 June 1960), patriarch of a family which dominated the early development of HOCKEY as players and managers.
Dr. James Naismith, physical educator, author, inventor, chaplain, physician (born 6 November 1861 in Almonte, Ontario; died 28 November 1939 in Lawrence, Kansas). James Naismith is best known as the inventor of the sport of basketball. He was also the first full-time athletics instructor at McGill University and established the basketball program at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where he worked and lived for 41 years until his death. Naismith became the first member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959. He was posthumously inducted to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame. In 2010, his original hand-written rules for the sport of basketball were sold at auction for $4.3 million, a sports memorabilia record.
Pierre Harvey, cross-country skier (b at Rimouski, Qué 24 Mar 1957). An exceptionally versatile athlete, he began serious competition at age 12 as a swimmer, switching to cycling at 16.
Laurie Graham, alpine skier (b at Orangeville, Ont 30 Mar 1960). A skier from the age of 5, she began competing in the Nancy Greene Ski League at 10 and reached the international circuit at 17, winning the Nor-Am downhill championship in her first year.
Anthony Charles “Tony” Golab, CM, football player (born 17 January 1919 in Windsor, Ontario; died 16 October 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario). Known as the “golden boy” of Canadian football, Tony Golab was a hard-charging, versatile player with the Ottawa Rough Riders. He played with the team from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1945 to 1950, serving as an RCAF flight lieutenant and pilot during the Second World War. Golab played offence and defence for Ottawa, where his spirited style made him a fan favourite. He appeared in four Grey Cup games, winning in 1940, and was named Canada’s male athlete of the year (now known as the Lionel Conacher Award) in 1941. He is a member of the Order of Canada, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Sunny's Halo, racehorse (b at Oshawa, Ont 11 Feb 1980; d at Bullard, Texas 3 June 2003). Sired by Halo out of Mostly Sunny, he was only the second Canadian-owned and -bred thoroughbred to win the Kentucky Derby (after NORTHERN DANCER). Owned by D.J.
Douglas Hepburn, weightlifter (born 16 September 1927 in Vancouver, BC; died 22 November 2000 in Vancouver, BC).
Bernard "Bernie" Allan Federko, hockey player (b at Foam Lake, Sask 12 May 1956). Bernie Federko was considered the consummate team player during his National Hockey League career, and his record for assists is still among the best in the NHL.
Perreault missed the Olympics at Lillehammer in 1994 due to a severe concussion sustained at the Canadian Olympic trials. Five months prior to the 1998 games at Nagano, Perreault had surgery on both shins to relieve a chronic problem with compartment syndrome.
Nick Weslock, golfer (born 13 December 1917 in Winnipeg, MB; died 27 October 2007 in Burlington, ON).
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC, hockey player, coach, entrepreneur (born 26 January 1961 in Brantford, ON).
Nancy Ellen Garapick, swimmer (b at Halifax 24 Sept 1961). Although proficient in backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and individual medley, she enjoyed possibly her greatest success in the backstroke, setting a world record of 2:16.33 for the 200 m (1975) and a Canadian and Olympic mark of 1:03.
George F. Gate, SWIMMING coach (born 11 December 1924 in Carlisle, England; died 17 August 2014 in Montreal, QC). In 1942 this young local swimming champion joined the British Royal Navy where he spent his free time reading about swimming techniques. Five years later, George F.
Michael Smith, decathlete (b at Kenora, Ont 1967). Smith established himself as a future champion by winning the silver medal at the World Junior Track and Field Championships in 1986. He was bothered by tendinitis in 1988 and placed a disappointing 14th at the OLYMPIC GAMES in Seoul.
