Dean Crawford
Personal information | |
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National team | Canadian rowing eights |
Born | February 28, 1958 Victoria, British Columbia |
Died | December 6, 2023 |
Education | University of Victoria |
Spouse | Belinda Macey |
Olympic medal record | ||
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Men's rowing | ||
Representing Canada | ||
1984 Los Angeles | Eight |
Dean Crawford (February 28, 1958 – December 6, 2023) was a Canadian
Biography
Crawford was born in Victoria, British Columbia on February 28, 1958, to Nora Mary (née Trimble) and Gerry Crawford. He completed his high school from Spectrum Community School, in Saanich, before joining University of Victoria (UVic) for a degree in Computer Science and Economics.[3]
At UVic, Crawford was introduced to rowing as a sport as a first year student, when he happened across a rowing shell outside the students' union building. He had no prior experience with the sport. The university team practiced at Elk Lake. The boathouse and facilities were noted to have been quite elementary with the university's boathouse being a plywood shack. During his time at the university, he was a member of the team coached by AI Morrow. In addition to Crawford, two other members of the university team Kevin Neufeld and Grant Main made it to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[2][3]
As a member of the Canadian rowing eights team at the 1984 Olympics at Lake Casitas outside of Los Angeles, he helped the team win the gold-medal, defeating teams including the United States team which was the home-team, with a victory margin of 0.42 seconds.[4][5] He rowed at the number 7 position on the boat and it was noted that he blacked out as the team crossed the finish line.[3] The medal was the country's first in rowing at the Olympics since 1964.[5] Crawford had earlier made a debut with the national team in 1982 and had represented the country in the 1983 World Championships. He also represented the country in the 1985 World Rowing Championships in Belgium.[4] He was named UVic's 1985 male athlete of the year.[5][6]
Crawford worked in the
Crawford married Belinda Macey in 2000. The couple had a daughter. Crawford had two children, a daughter and a son, from a prior marriage. Crawford died on December 6, 2023.[3]
References
- ^ "Obituary: Vikes mourn the loss of hall of fame rower Dean Crawford". University of Victoria Athletics. December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ timescolonist.com. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Victoria rower Dean Crawford won gold in upset victory at 1984 Olympics". The Globe and Mail. December 29, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ a b "Swimming community mourns loss of Dean Crawford – Swimming Canada". www.swimming.ca. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Dean Crawford – 1958–2023". Rowing Canada Aviron. December 12, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ "Obituary: Vikes mourn the loss of hall of fame rower Dean Crawford". University of Victoria Athletics. December 12, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
External links
- Canadian Olympic Committee
- Dean Crawford profile at Olympics.com