Les McDonald (triathlon)

Les McDonald
CM
Les McDonald in 1987
Born(1933-04-30)30 April 1933
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
Died4 September 2017(2017-09-04) (aged 84)
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CitizenshipBritish, Canadian
OccupationIF President
OrganizationInternational Triathlon Union
Term1989 – 2008
SuccessorMarisol Casado
AwardsTriathlon Canada Hall of Fame
BC Sports Hall of Fame
Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame
ITU Hall of Game
IOC Women and Sport Award
HonoursOrder of Canada
Olympic Order

Les McDonald, CM (30 April 1933 – 4 September 2017) 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. He 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 Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame (2001), 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] He 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.

  1. ^ "Triathlon at the Olympic Games: A History Lesson". IRONMAN.com. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Former ITU President Les McDonald Dies at 84 | Triathlete.com". Triathlete.com. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame". Team Canada - Official 2018 Olympic Team Website. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. ^ "BC Sports Hall of Fame". www.bcsportshalloffame.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  5. ^ Union, International Triathlon. "Les McDonald ITU Hall of Fame". Triathlon.org. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  6. ^ Union, International Triathlon (28 February 2010). "ITU Honorary President Les McDonald Awarded Olympic Order". Triathlon.org. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  7. ^ General, The Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". Retrieved 7 September 2017.