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Surprise in Tokyo: The “Golden Rejects”

October 15, 2013

By The Canadian Olympic Committee

October 15, 1964.

Rowers Roger Jackson and George Hungerford win gold in the men’s coxless pair at the Games of the XVIII Olympiad in Tokyo. Both were headed to Tokyo as alternates, but began training together just weeks before the start of the Games. They surprised everyone by winning their opening heat and advancing to the final. No one gave them much of a chance of winning and many Canadian officials and journalists skipped the event. After winning by three-quarters of a boat length, they were dubbed the “Golden Rejects”.