Regardless of what your chosen sport might be, it’s nice to be recognized by the governing body for what you have accomplished, but to get recognized in another country – well that’s extra special.
Such is the case with Canadian Athlete Charmaine Crooks who was born in Manderville Jamaica and is a five-time Olympian and Olympic Medalist who represented Canada for close to 20 years in Athletics.
She is the first Canadian woman to run 800 meters in under two minutes, also winning Gold medals at the Pan American, Commonwealth, World Cup, and the World Student Games.
She was Canada’s official Flag Bearer at the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games and is the fifth child with 5 sisters and 3 brothers.
Below are a few of what she has accomplished putting Canada on the world stage.
She won the 400 meter title at the first Pan Am Junior Championships in 1980, won Silver in the 4 x 400 meter relay and in 1981 won Bronze at the World Cup in Rome as a member of the America’s 4 x 400 meter relay team.
She Won Gold medal in the 4 x 400 meter relay and placed 7th in a 9 women field in the individual 400 meter race at the 1982 Commonwealth games.
In 1983 She won Gold in the 400 meters at the Pan Am Games, and a silver in 4 x 400 meter relay, as well as a silver in the World University games as a member of the 4 x 400 meter team.
In 1984 at the Los Angeles Olympics she won silver as a part of the team that set a national record of 3:21.21 for the 4 x 400 meter relay.
She finished 7th in the final of the 400 meters in a p.b. of 50.45 .
In 1986 she was again Commonwealth champion as a member of the winning 4 x 400 meter relay squad, and place 5th in the individual 400 meters; in a close race in which less than half a second separated the 2nd and 6th-place finishers.
In 1987 she was on Canada’s silver medal 4 x 400 meter relay team at the Pan Am Games. In 1989 at the World Cup she won gold as a member of the America’s 4 x 400 meter relay team.
She also took home two silver medals in the 400m and as part of Canada’s 4 × 400 m relay team; at the Francophone Games in Casablanca in 1989.
In 1992 She won a silver medal in the 400 meters at the World Cup and was again a member of the winning America’s 4 x 400 meter relay team.
At the Commonwealth games in Victoria in 1994, she was silver medalist in the 800 meters, and a bronze medalist in the 4 x 400 meters.
These are only a few of what she has accomplished for Canada and now she is honored by the University of El Paso as a former Graduate, who has a street named after her.
Quite the feat and “Thanks” from everyone in Canada!!
