Les McDonald
Les McDonald, CM (30 April 1933 – 4 September 2017) was a Canadian athlete and administrator. He was the founding President of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) from 1989-2008, and was made an Honorary President for the organization until his death in 2017.
Les McDonald | |
|---|---|
 McDonald in 1987 | |
| Born | 30 April 1933 Felling, Tyne and Wear, England |
| Died | 4 September 2017 (aged 84) Vancouver, BC, Canada |
| Citizenship | British, Canadian |
| Organization | International Triathlon Union |
| Title | President |
| Term | 1989-2008 |
| Successor | Marisol Casado |
| Awards | BC Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, ITU Hall of Game, IOC Women and Sport Award |
| Honours | Order of Canada, Olympic Order |
McDonald is largely credited with getting the sport of triathlon into the Olympic Games, with the inaugural race taking place at the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia, in 2000.[1][2] He is a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (2007),[3] the BC Sports Hall of Fame (2009),[4] and the ITU Hall of Fame (2014).[5] He was awarded the Olympic Order in 2010, in Vancouver, by the International Olympic Committee.[6]
McDonald was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2013[7] by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada.
References
- ↑ "Triathlon at the Olympic Games: A History Lesson" (in en-US). IRONMAN.com. http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/news/articles/2016/08/triathlon-olympic-history.aspx#axzz4s0qBzyGS. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
- ↑ "Former ITU President Les McDonald Dies at 84 | Triathlete.com" (in en-US). Triathlete.com. 2017-09-05. http://www.triathlete.com/2017/09/news/former-itu-president-les-mcdonald-dies-84_305337. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
- ↑ "Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame". Team Canada - Official 2018 Olympic Team Website. 2014-04-02. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
- ↑ "BC Sports Hall of Fame". www.bcsportshalloffame.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
- ↑ Union, International Triathlon. "Les McDonald ITU Hall of Fame". Triathlon.org. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
- ↑ Union, International Triathlon (2010-02-28). "ITU Honorary President Les McDonald Awarded Olympic Order". Triathlon.org. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
- ↑ General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 2017-09-07.