Reprinted from The Mississauga News article by cclay@mississauga.net
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| Mississauga News Photo by Fred Loek |
Not many will forget John Wood's performance at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Wood, a long-time member of the Mississauga Canoe Club, rose to international prominence after winning a silver medal in canoeing. It marked the first time in 24 years, since the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, that Canada had received a medal in canoe.
He just missed out on gold in the C-1 500 metre individual race, finishing 34/100th of a second behind first place finisher Alexandre Rogov of the Soviet Union.
Wood died suddenly on Wednesday. He was 62.
Dean Oldershaw, a kayaker who's currently a coach at the Mississauga Canoe Club, trained with Wood prior to the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. He can't forget just how hard Wood worked to get his body ready for competition with the best in the world.
"He wasn't a natural athlete but he was the hardest worker I've ever seen," said Oldershaw. "I thought I was a hard worker but when we would train I'd see his back most of the time when we were running or cross-country skiing."
"He was an inspiration to be around and I know he made me train harder," he continued.
Despite all his athletic success, Wood wasn't the type of guy to let it go to his head. Judy Tutty, a long-time member of the Mississauga Canoe Club, said Wood always had time to chat with younger athletes and acted as a mentor to many of them.
Tutty said he was a legend in the sport. Even when his competitive paddling days were over, he gave back to the sport in a variety of ways including serving as director of the Burloak Canoe Club as well as investment committee chair for both Canadian Olympic Foundation and Canadian Olympic Association.
Tutty, who joined the canoe club in 1972, said she is saddened by his loss.
"He was far, far too young," said Tutty. "The whole canoeing community is in shock right now. I was just beside myself when I heard."
Oldershaw, meanwhile, credited Wood with being a role model for other Canadian Olympics canoeists such as Larry Cain and Steve Giles.
Wood also competed in the two-men race at the Montreal Olympics, finishing seventh. He represented Canada three times at the Olympics, including Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972.
Wood won another silver medal in the two-men 500 metres with partner Greg Smith at the 1977 World Championships and retired from canoeing soon after. However, he wasn't done with sport and won a bronze medal in sailing at the 1979 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico.
He also served as a canoe commentator on the CBC and covered the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
He's a member of both the Mississauga and Oakville Sports Halls of Fame.
Once his athletic days were over, he went on to enjoy a successful career as a stockbroker and served as president of the 20/20 Group. He's also chairman and founder of Bellwether Investment Management.
Wood, who had been living in Oakville, is survived by his wife Debbie, three sons and daughter.
"It was my honour to have known him and not just on race day," said Oldershaw.
A celebration of Woods' life will take place at the Mississauga Canoe Club on Sat. Feb. 2 from 2-5pm.
cclay@mississauga.net
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