The Olympians Among Us: Celebrating a Century of Excellence

Ronald R. Wallingford is a professor in the School of Human Movement at
Laurentian University.

This book focuses on Olympians who at some time in their lives lived in
Essex or Kent Counties in southwestern Ontario, and includes not only
athletes but also “a platoon of ordinary people.”

In the 1908 Olympic Games, for example, Fred Meadows finished sixth in
the 5000-metre run. Although cautioned against taking up running
following a bout with rheumatic fever, John Loaring, who qualified for
three 1912 Olympic finals, won a silver medal in the 400-metre hurdles.
Nine of the 13-member 1936 British gold-medal hockey team trained in
southwestern Ontario. Herb Wakabayashi, a Chatham-trained hockey player,
carried Japan’s flag at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Gerry Ouellette,
using a borrowed rifle, claimed the gold in the small-bore, prone event
at Melbourne’s 1956 Games. Ernestine Russell, Ed Gagnier, and coach
Bernard Newman, three gymnasts who represented Canada in gymnastics at
the Melbourne Games, all hailed from Windsor.

The non-official Olympic Team personnel profiled in the last quarter of
the book worked in television coordination or marathon officiating, or
were deaf Olympians, draw makers, medical personnel, Olympic hopefuls,
para-Olympians, and torch-bearers, who were selected by lottery.

Throughout the book, the authors have preserved the charm of many
Olympic happenings. This book will be popular locally.