TORONTO (October 23, 2019) – The Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame,
presented by RBC inducted its Class of 2019 on Wednesday afternoon. This year’s
group of inductees consists of four athletes (Émilie Heymans / Alexandre
Despatie / Christine Girard / Simon Whitfield), two teams (Vancouver 2010
women’s hockey team / London 2012 women’s soccer team), two builders (Jack
Poole / Randy Starkman) and one coach (Hiroshi Nakamura).
Held at the historic Glenn
Gould Studio in Toronto, the inductees and approximately 300 of their closest
friends and family celebrated the highest honour in the Canadian Olympic
Movement.
Since 1949, the Canadian
Olympic Hall of Fame has inducted 429 athletes, teams, coaches, and builders in
recognition of their outstanding Olympic achievements and their embodiment of
the Olympic values. For more information, visit the official page of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.
TRIBUTES:
Visit the official page of the
Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame to
read tributes to the Class of 2019 from Alex Bilodeau, Cheryl Pounder, Kara
Lang, Antoine Valois-Fortier, Jennifer Abel, Adam van Koeverden, Rosie
MacLennan, Tyler Mislawchuk and Perdita Felicien.
QUOTES:
Darlene Poole (Jack Poole’s
wife) – On behalf of builder Jack Poole:
“Jack believed in people and
revelled in inspiring them to do impossible things. The 2010 Olympic Games was
always a journey against the odds, but Jack believed to the very end that
Vancouver would prevail, that the confidence of British Columbians’ would soar
and that Canada would be changed forever – and in true Jack form he would
deflect the credit to others. He would be deeply humbled by this recognition.”
Hayley
Wickenheiser – On
behalf of the Vancouver 2010 Women’s Hockey Team:
“Winning a gold medal on home
soil is something that few athletes get a chance to do and it’s not easy!
Vancouver 2010 was a special Olympics for all of us. Our team rose to the
challenge of playing under the pressure of competing at home. We felt like
there were seven players on the ice at all times, the 7th was the Canadian
crowd and all the fans cheering us on to gold. Thank you Canada!”
Diana
Matheson – On
behalf of the London 2012 Women’s Soccer Team:
Induction into the Canadian
Olympic Hall of Fame means the world to the players and staff that made up the
London 2012 Women’s Soccer Team. We were a group that had spent over a decade
trying to break into the world’s best, and after finishing dead last in a World
Cup in 2011, and with a new coaching staff that reinvigorated our passion to
change Canadian soccer for the better, we managed to do just that. None of that
team’s success in 2012 would have been possible without the belief and support
of Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee, as well as the private
supporters and donors that helped fund our team and players financially before
we had achieved any meaningful success. This honour is especially due to the
millions of Canadians that embraced our team with such love and support during
the summer of 2012. Thank you.
Hiroshi Nakamura – Coach:
“During my career, I tried to
live every day by the Japanese expression: ICHI, NICHI, ISSHO. The translation
is ‘always try to have the best day possible and the combination of lifetime
experiences will define your life.’ If you truly live this way, you will feel
your life has value and fulfillment. To young coaches and athletes of every
sport, if you are passionate, dedicated and willing to make sacrifices, success
will come.”
Émilie
Heymans – Athlete:
“I am very happy and honoured
to be among the inductees of the 2019 Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. I hope to
be able to use this opportunity to continue to inspire the new generation to
achieve and exceed their limits. Sport gave me a lot, but above all, it taught
me that even if I practiced an individual sport, it was thanks to an incredible
team of people that I was able to make my dream of winning four Olympic medals
come true.”
Alexandre
Despatie – Athlete:
“I have had the privilege to
do what I loved the most for 22 years and had the honour of competing and
representing my country on the biggest stage in sports. The hard work of myself
and my team over the years made it a successful career. Now to be inducted in
the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, looking back at a full career, among this
amazing group of people is such a blessing! Thank you so much.”
Christine
Girard – Athlete:
“When I finally received my
Beijing 2008 and London 2012 medals last year, I felt that it was something
greater than a personal victory. It was a victory for Canada, a victory for our
values. The honour of being inducted in the Class of 2019 is a validation that
these values of true sport are indeed something that Canadians hold high. I am
so very proud to be Canadian. I am deeply honoured to be recognized among so
many amazing individuals who have helped shape sport in Canada.”
Simon
Whitfield – Athlete:
“I’m proud to be called to
the Olympic Hall of Fame. It has been quite remarkable and touching to hear
from old friends and coaches, athletes and Canadians who contributed and found
inspiration from my Olympic journey.”
Mary Hynes (Randy Starkman’s
wife) – On behalf of builder Randy Starkman:
“One of the reasons this is
so meaningful to me is that I saw how hard Randy worked. I don’t just mean late
nights at the press centre during the Olympics – I mean the way he’d show up at
training camps. Or the way he would get to know an athlete’s mom and dad. The
way he would spend so many weekends on long-distance phone calls – doing
interviews about events nobody else was covering. There was no one like him on
the beat. There was no one like him, anywhere. Ever. Ella and I are just so
proud of him. She was born during the Atlanta Summer Games in 1996 – and Randy
came home. I can’t imagine anything else prying him away from the Olympics.”
Ken McKinnon – Recipient of
the 2019 RBC NextGen Award:
“Thank you to RBC, Swimming
Canada and all of those involved in the nomination and selection process. I’ve
been extremely fortunate in my career. I developed a passion for swimming at my
local Summer Swim Club that still burns strong with me today. I was given the
opportunity to develop the skills required to become a performance coach
working at Pointe Claire Swim Club and I appreciate all that I learned from my
best swimmers. Currently I’m working harder and having more fun than I ever
have.”