TEAM CANADA
THE VALUE OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES to Canadian athletes and Canada's sport system
Measurable, Evidence Based Facts ....
- On average about 70% of Canada’s Commonwealth athletes make the Canadian Pan American Games Team.
- On average about 50% of Canada’s Commonwealth athletes make the Canadian Summer Olympic Games Team.
- Canada won 18 medals of the 2012 Olympic Games. Nine (9) of those medals were won in sports contested at both the Commonwealth and Olympic Games and all 9 were won by Commonwealth athletes.
- On a “soft” note, dozens of Canadian Commonwealth Champions go on to become Olympic Champions, recently & notably: Clara Hughes, Kyle Shewfelt, Ryan Cochrane and Alex Despatie;
“I won gold when I was 13 in Kuala Lumpur (1998 Commonwealth Games) …
it was my first big games, the beginning of my career, it was very special and an experience I’ll remember all my life.”
Alex Despatie, Commonwealth & Olympic Champion Diver
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Ryan Cochrane Swimming |
Pamela Ware / Jennifer Abel Synchronized Diving |
Ellie Black |
EXCEPTIONAL "CANADIANS" AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES
1966 Commonwealth Games - Jamaica
Elaine Tanner “Mighty Mouse” – 15 years old
Made history winning a record 7 Medals: 4 GOLD, 3 SILVER
Elaine Tanner was the first athlete in history to win quad gold at any Commonwealth Games and was awarded the most outstanding athlete in Jamaica. She also set two World Records; on in the 220 Butterfly and another in the 440 Individual Medley. To read Elaine's story: www.ElaineTanner.ca
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1978 Commonwealth Games – Edmonton, AB
Graham Smith – 20 years old
First competitor to win 6 GOLD medals at a single Commonwealth Games
Winning the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke, 200- and 400-metre individual medleys, and was part of the winning 4x100-metre freestyle and 4x100-metre medley relay teams. Graham Smith twice broke the world record in the men's 200-metre individual medley (long course)
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2006 Commonwealth Games – Melbourne Winning 6 GOLD medals |
2014 Commonwealth Games - Glasgow Winning 5 GOLD and 1 BRONZE medals |
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