Marnie McBean

Marnie McBean is one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians. In her two Olympic appearances she captured four medals, including three gold, making her one of just two Canadians to be a triple gold medallist at the Summer Games. The other is Kathleen Heddle, McBean’s partner in the coxless pair at Barcelona 1992 and in the double sculls at Atlanta 1996. They were also members of the champion eights crew in Barcelona and won bronze in the quadruple sculls in Atlanta. After her incredible rowing career, during which she won a total of 12 World and Olympic medals, McBean was hired by the Canadian Olympic Committee as a specialist in Olympic Athlete Preparation and Mentoring. She has worked closely with the last four Canadian Olympic Teams, including Vancouver 2010 and London 2012, and is currently involved with preparing athletes for Sochi 2014. Her job is to ensure the best performance possible by preparing them emotionally and psychologically. McBean is a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal and has been given the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. She was also appointed an Officer to the Order of Canada. McBean earned her degree in kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario and has been given three honorary doctorates.