Victor Davis
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Victor Davis,CM, (February 10, 1964 - November 13, 1989) was a Canadian Olympic and World champion swimmer. He was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and died in Montreal, Quebec.
As a boy, Davis learned how to swim in the lakes in the area around his home then joined the Guelph Marlin Aquatic Club at the age of 12. A dedicated sportsman, he had a passion to win that saw him become one of Canada's most prominent international swimming stars and the greatest breaststroke swimmer Canada had ever produced. During his career, Davis held several world records as the winner of 29 national titles and 16 medals in international competition. At the 1982 world championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he set his first world record while winning the gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, he won a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke event then captured the gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke, in the process establishing another world record. In recognition of his accomplishments, Victor Davis was named Swimming Canada's Athlete of the Year three times and the Canadian government made him a member of the Order of Canada. A star of Canada's national swim team for nine years, he retired from competitive swimming in July of 1989. He was voted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985.
Only a few months after his retirement, on November 11, 1989 while outside a nightclub in the Montreal suburb of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Victor Davis was struck by an automobile whose driver fled the scene. Two days later, the 25 year-old died of his injuries in hospital. His parents fulfilled his express wish that his organs be donated to help save the lives of others.
Each year since his passing, awards are made by The Victor Davis Memorial Fund to help young Canadian swimmers continue their education while training in pursuit of excellence at the international level of competition.
Career highlights
- 1982 World Championships - Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Gold Medal – 200m Breaststroke (sets World Record at 2:14.77)
- Silver Medal – 100m Breaststroke
- 1982 British Commonwealth Games – Brisbane, Australia
- Gold Medal – 200m Breaststroke
- Silver Medal - 100m Breaststroke
- 1984 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles, United States
- 1986 British Commonwealth Games – Edinburgh, Scotland
- Gold Medal - 4x100m Medley Relay
- Gold Medal - 100m Breastroke
- Silver Medal - 200m Breaststroke
- 1986 World Championships – Madrid, Spain
- Gold Medal - 100m Breaststroke
- Silver Medal - 200m Breaststroke
- 1988 Summer Olympics – Seoul, South Korea
- Silver Medal - 4x100m Medley Relay (1.00.90 split)
- Fourth place - 100m Breaststroke (1.02.38)