Guillaume Leblanc to be inducted into Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame

Friday, January 25, 2008

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada is proud to announce today that race walker Guillaume Leblanc from Sept-Iles, Quebec will be part of the 2008 class inducted into the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) Hall of Fame.

Martin Goulet, Athletics Canada Chief High Performance Officer remembers Guillaume as an outstanding talent; “He was beyond doubt one of our exceptional National Team athletes in the late eighties and early nineties; exceptional from a talent standpoint and how an intelligent and clever competitor he was.” Goulet adds, “There was something immeasurable in his demeanor and attitude that you knew he was truly a world class athlete”.

Born April 14, 1962, Guillaume competed at three Olympic Games, winning silver at the 1992 Barcelona Games in the 20 km racewalk.  Leblanc also won gold at the Jeux de la Francophonie in 1989 and at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.  He is Canada’s most decorated and successful race walker, still holding the Canadian 30 km and 10000 m senior race walk records as well as the 10 km junior mark.  The athletics facility in Sept-Iles was named after him following the 1992 Games; the same honor was bestowed upon him in Rimouski where a recreational centre carries his name since 1993.

The Gala Dinner & Induction Ceremony is part of the COC’s 2008 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend “Celebrating the 20-Year Legacy of Calgary 1988.”

The Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame recognizes those who have served the cause of the Olympic Movement with distinction. The other 2008 inductees are: Catrina Le May Doan (long-track speed skating), RCAF Flyers (men’s hockey team), Danièle Sauvageau (women’s hockey coach), Barbara Ann Scott (figure skater), Frank King and Bill Warren (Calgary 1988 Olympic Games).

Tickets for the 2008 Hall of Fame gala dinner and induction ceremony are on sale now and available by calling 416-324-4144.

Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running, road running and road racing.

-AC-

Mathieu Gentès
Marketing and Communications Manager
Athletics Canada
mgentes@athletics.ca
Office: 613-260-5580 ext. 3303
Mobile: 613-868-7692

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