Alex Baumann leads Canada into the Los Angeles 1984 Opening Ceremony.

Los Angeles 1984

Team Canada Medal Count

Gold medal icon 10
Silver medal icon 18
Bronze medal icon 16

Flag Bearers

Opening Ceremony

Closing Ceremony

Games Summary

Games of the XXIII Olympiad

Los Angeles was the only bidder for the 1984 Olympic Games and for the first time the Games were run in entrepreneurial fashion, producing a profit of $223 million US. These were the first Games since 1896 to be staged without government funding, relying instead on existing facilities and corporate sponsors. Criticized at the time, this model was followed by future Olympic organizing committees.

Following the American-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, it wasn’t too surprising when the Soviet Union organized a boycott of these Games. Viewed by many as a retaliatory move, Soviet officials cited concerns about the safety of their athletes in an anti-communist environment and were joined by 13 other nations in the boycott. Nevertheless, a record 140 countries competed, including the People’s Republic of China for the first time since 1952.

Baumann, Alex about to dive into the water

Canada fielded its largest ever Olympic team, 273 men and 163 women, second in size only to the United States. The Canadian team won an unprecedented 44 medals, led by the swimmers who captured 10. Alex Baumann set two world records in winning gold in both the 200m and 400m individual medleys. Victor Davis won three medals, highlighted by 200m breaststroke gold in world record time. Anne Ottenbrite also earned three medals, including her own 200m breaststroke gold.

There was more success on the water, as Canada won six medals in each of canoe/kayak sprint and rowing to go with three medals in sailing as well as an historic gold medal in diving from Sylvie Bernier. The paddlers were led by gold medals from Larry Cain and the duo of Alwyn Morris and Hugh Fisher while the men’s eight crew rowed its way to gold.

Cain, Larry mid-paddle

There was another push forward for women’s sports with the debuts of rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming. Canada reached the podium in both, with Lori Fung winning the first ever Olympic rhythmic gymnastics gold to go with a pair of silver medals for the synchro swimmers. Women were also finally able to compete in the marathon, 56 years after doctors had declared that women who ran 800 metres would “become old too soon”.

Canada’s first gold of the Games came from Linda Thom, who became the first female Canadian shooter to win an Olympic medal.

athletes on the podium

 

Canadian Medallists

Event Athlete Finish Sport
Springboard 3m - WomenSylvie BernierGoldAquatics - Diving
Breaststroke 200m - WomenAnne OttenbriteGoldAquatics - Swimming
Breaststroke 200m - MenVictor DavisGoldAquatics - Swimming
Individual Medley 200m - MenAlex BaumannGoldAquatics - Swimming
Individual Medley 400m - MenAlex BaumannGoldAquatics - Swimming
Coxed Eight - MenDean Crawford, J. Michael Evans, Mark Evans, Blair Horn, Grant Main, Brian McMahon, Kevin Neufeld, Paul Steele, Pat TurnerGoldRowing
C-1 500m - MenLarry CainGoldCanoe-Kayak - Sprint
K-2 1,000m - MenHugh Fisher, Alwyn MorrisGoldCanoe-Kayak - Sprint
Individual All-Around - WomenLori FungGoldGymnastics - Rhythmic
Pistol 25m - WomenLinda ThomGoldShooting
Breaststroke 100m - MenVictor DavisSilverAquatics - Swimming
Breaststroke 100m - WomenAnne OttenbriteSilverAquatics - Swimming
Medley Relay 4x100m - MenVictor Davis, Sandy Goss, Tom Ponting, Mike WestSilverAquatics - Swimming
Duet - WomenSharon Hambrook, Kelly KryczkaSilverAquatics - Synchronized Swimming
Solo - WomenCarolyn WaldoSilverAquatics - Synchronized Swimming
Relay 4x100m - WomenAngela Bailey, France Gareau, Angella Issajenko, Marita WigginsSilverAthletics
Relay 4x400m - WomenCharmaine Crooks, Molly Killingbeck, Jillian Richardson-Briscoe, Marita Wiggins, Dana WrightSilverAthletics
Heavyweight - MenWillie de WitSilverBoxing
Welterweight - MenShawn O'SullivanSilverBoxing
C-1 1,000m - MenLarry CainSilverCanoe-Kayak - Sprint
K-2 500m - WomenAlexandra Barré, Sue HollowaySilverCanoe-Kayak - Sprint
Individual Road Race - MenSteve BauerSilverCycling - Road
Time Trial 1,000m - MenCurt HarnettSilverCycling - Track
Coxed Four - WomenBarbara Armbrust, Marilyn Brain, Angela Schneider, Lesley Thompson-Willie, Jane TregunnoSilverRowing
Coxless Pair - WomenElizabeth Craig, Tricia SmithSilverRowing
Two-Person Centreboard Dinghy - MixedEvert Bastet, Terry McLaughlinSilverSailing
77kg - MenJacques DemersSilverWeightlifting
120kg - MenBob MolleSilverWrestling - Freestyle
Backstroke 100m - MenMike WestBronzeAquatics - Swimming
Backstroke 200m - MenCameron HenningBronzeAquatics - Swimming
Medley Relay 4x100m - WomenReema Abdo, Michelle MacPherson, Anne Ottenbrite, Pamela RaiBronzeAquatics - Swimming
100m - MenBen JohnsonBronzeAthletics
3,000m - WomenLynn WilliamsBronzeAthletics
Relay 4x100m - MenSterling Hinds, Ben Johnson, Tony Sharpe, Desai WilliamsBronzeAthletics
Bantamweight - MenDale WaltersBronzeBoxing
K-2 500m - MenHugh Fisher, Alwyn MorrisBronzeCanoe-Kayak - Sprint
K-4 500m - WomenAlexandra Barré, Lucie Guay, Sue Holloway, Barbara OlmstedBronzeCanoe-Kayak - Sprint
Heavyweight - MenMark BergerBronzeJudo
Double Sculls - WomenDaniele Laumann, Silken LaumannBronzeRowing
Quadruple Sculls - MenBruce Ford, Doug Hamilton, Michael Hughes, Philip MoncktonBronzeRowing
Single Sculls - MenRobert MillsBronzeRowing
One-Person Dinghy (Heavyweight) - MenTerry NeilsonBronzeSailing
Three-Person Keelboat - MixedStephen Calder, Hans Fogh, John KerrBronzeSailing
74kg - MenChris RinkeBronzeWrestling - Freestyle

Teams