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TORONTO 鈥� Victoria鈥檚 Olympic gold medal-winning triathlete Simon Whitfield was among nine individuals named on Wednesday for induction into sa国际传媒鈥檚 Sports Hall of Fame.
Whitfield, 41, who captured gold at the Sydney Games in 2000 and silver eight years later in Beijing, said while he always dreamt of hearing O sa国际传媒 and watching sa国际传媒鈥檚 flag being raised while standing atop the Olympic podium, he has never ranked his many accomplishments in any sort of order.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just part of the story, there鈥檚 a poetry to sport,鈥� said Whitfield, a 12-time world champion, who was also a gold medallist in the triathlon at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.
鈥淭o be recognized as an Olympian and Canadian Sports Hall of Fame member, and to know the legacy of the great Canadian athletes that have come before and will come in the future, I鈥檓 proud to be part of that legacy.鈥�
Stanley Cup champion and Hockey Hall of Fame member Lanny McDonald, who played for Toronto, Colorado and Calgary from 1973 to 1989, was also among those chosen for the Hall.
鈥淵ou never dream of ever being honoured or asked to go into sa国际传媒鈥檚 Sports Hall of Fame,鈥� said McDonald.
鈥淚 thought it was one of the guys pranking me when this came about, but all of a sudden today happens and you realize: 鈥極h my gosh.鈥� 鈥�
Other Olympians inducted were wrestler Carol Huynh and speed skater Cindy Klassen. Also inducted were golfer Mike Weir; lacrosse standout Gaylor Powless; and the Edmonton Grads women鈥檚 basketball team. Neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Tator and Canadian Paralympic founder Dr. Robert W. Jackson were named in the builder鈥檚 category.
Powless and Jackson were both honoured posthumously. All nine will be formally enshrined in Toronto on Nov. 9.
