Mark Tewksbury
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In 1992 Mark Tewksbury burst onto the international scene following a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the 100-metre backstroke at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. This gold medal performance capped a remarkable 16-year athletic career which included three Olympic medals, seven world records, a cover appearance on TIME Magazine and inductions into three major Halls of Fame.
Today Mark is a recognized as a leader of social change. Author of three books, including Inside Out: Straight Talk from a Gay Jock, Tewksbury is one of the few openly gay Olympic champions in the world. With other leading Canadian advocates and athletes, Mark co-founded OATH to take a difficult but necessary step to hold the International Olympic Committee accountable to its own ideals. In 2006, he was the president of the 1st World Outgames held in Montreal, was recognized as one of OUT Magazine’s top 100 people, and in 2007 was named Fondation Emergence’s person of the year for his fight against homophobia. For his active humanitarianism and ethical leadership Mark was awarded an honorary doctorate of Laws from the University of Western Ontario.
Photo Courtesy of: Shona Dion, Sweet Earth Photographic.