Victor Davis
Encyclopedia
Victor Davis, CM
(February 10, 1964 – November 13, 1989) was a Canadian Olympic
and world champion swimmer
, a well known breaststroke
r from Canada. He also enjoyed success in the individual medley
and the butterfly
.
, Ontario
, Canada. As a boy, Davis learned how to swim in the lakes around his home. He then joined the Guelph Marlin Aquatic Club at the age of 12.
During his career, Davis held several world record
s as the winner of 31 national titles and 16 medals in international competition. At the 1982 world championships in Guayaquil
, Ecuador
, he set his first world record while winning the gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, California
, he won a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke event, then captured the gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke, in the process establishing another world record. In recognition of his accomplishments, Davis was named Swimming Canada's Athlete of the Year three times and the Canadian government
made him a Member of the Order of Canada
.
A star of Canada's national swim team for nine years, he retired from competitive swimming in July 1989. He was voted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
in 1990.
Only a few months after his retirement
, on November 11, 1989 while outside a nightclub
in the Montreal suburb of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
, Davis was struck by an automobile
whose driver fled the scene. It was later determined that, due to an earlier verbal altercation with the driver, Davis had walked to the middle of the road and was brandishing a juice bottle toward the car at the time he was struck. Two days later, the 25 year-old died of his injuries in hospital
. In February 1992, Glen Crossley was found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident
and sentenced to ten months in prison, ultimately serving four months.
to help save the lives of others. The swimmer's heart, liver, kidneys and two cornea were transplanted.
Each year since his death, awards are made by The Victor Davis Memorial Fund to help young Canadian swimmers continue their education while training in pursuit of excellence at the international level of competition. To date, more than 86 athletes have benefited from this award, and many of them have gone on to have successful swimming careers. Thirteen recipients of this award participated in the Beijing Olympics.
, who appeared in the title role. This movie highlights his struggles and determination through his years of competitive swimming.
– Guayaquil
, Ecuador
1982 Commonwealth Games
– Brisbane
, Australia
1984 Canadian Olympic Trials – Etobicoke, Ontario
, Canada
1984 Summer Olympics
– Los Angeles, United States
1986 Commonwealth Games
– Edinburgh
, Scotland
1986 World Aquatics Championships
– Madrid
, Spain
1988 Summer Olympics
– Seoul
, South Korea
Canadian National Championships (including separate trials meets)
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(February 10, 1964 – November 13, 1989) was a Canadian Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and world champion swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, a well known breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
r from Canada. He also enjoyed success in the individual medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
and the butterfly
Butterfly stroke
The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the breast, with both arms moving simultaneously. The butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick"...
.
Biography
Victor Davis was born in GuelphGuelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. As a boy, Davis learned how to swim in the lakes around his home. He then joined the Guelph Marlin Aquatic Club at the age of 12.
During his career, Davis held several world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
s as the winner of 31 national titles and 16 medals in international competition. At the 1982 world championships in Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, he set his first world record while winning the gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, he won a silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke event, then captured the gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke, in the process establishing another world record. In recognition of his accomplishments, Davis was named Swimming Canada's Athlete of the Year three times and the Canadian government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
made him a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
A star of Canada's national swim team for nine years, he retired from competitive swimming in July 1989. He was voted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
in 1990.
Only a few months after his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
, on November 11, 1989 while outside a nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in the Montreal suburb of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is a town located at the western tip of the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is the second oldest community in Montreal's West Island, having been founded as a parish in 1703...
, Davis was struck by an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
whose driver fled the scene. It was later determined that, due to an earlier verbal altercation with the driver, Davis had walked to the middle of the road and was brandishing a juice bottle toward the car at the time he was struck. Two days later, the 25 year-old died of his injuries in hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. In February 1992, Glen Crossley was found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
and sentenced to ten months in prison, ultimately serving four months.
Legacy
Victor's parents fulfilled his express wish that his organs be donatedOrgan donation
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
to help save the lives of others. The swimmer's heart, liver, kidneys and two cornea were transplanted.
Each year since his death, awards are made by The Victor Davis Memorial Fund to help young Canadian swimmers continue their education while training in pursuit of excellence at the international level of competition. To date, more than 86 athletes have benefited from this award, and many of them have gone on to have successful swimming careers. Thirteen recipients of this award participated in the Beijing Olympics.
Movie
Victor's life, death and legacy was remembered in Victor, a two-hour film, that was written by the former Canadian swimmer Mark LutzMark Lutz (actor)
Mark Douglas Lutz is a Canadian actor, who is best known for playing Groosalugg in the television series Angel and for writing and starring in the two-hour movie on the life and death of Victor Davis....
, who appeared in the title role. This movie highlights his struggles and determination through his years of competitive swimming.
Career highlights
1982 World Aquatics Championships1982 World Aquatics Championships
The 1982 World Aquatics Championships took place in Guayaquil, Ecuador between July 29 and August 8, 1982 with 848 participating athletes.- Medals table :-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen-Synchronised swimming:-Water polo:Men...
– Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
, Ecuador
- Gold medal – 200 m breaststroke (world record 2:14.77, breaking the old record of 2:15.11 set by David Wilke in 1976)
- Silver medal – 100 m breaststroke
1982 Commonwealth Games
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...
– Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia
- Gold medal – 200 m Breaststroke
- Silver medal – 100 m Breaststroke
1984 Canadian Olympic Trials – Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke is a dissolved municipality located within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the western section of the current city, it had an official population of 338,117 as measured by the 2001 Census and 334,491 people as of the 2006 Census. While it only contains 13% of...
, Canada
- Won the 200 m breaststroke (broke his own world record with a time of 2:14.58, bettering his 1982 time)
1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
– Los Angeles, United States
- Gold medal – 200 m breaststroke (established world record at 2:13.34, lowering his own 1984 record time)
- Silver medal – 100 m breaststroke
- Silver medal – 4x100 m medley relay
1986 Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
– Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
- Gold medal – 4x100 m medley relay
- Gold medal – 100 m breaststroke
- Silver medal – 200 m breaststroke
1986 World Aquatics Championships
1986 World Aquatics Championships
The 1986 World Aquatics Championships took place in Madrid, Spain between August 13 and August 23, 1986 with 1119 participating athletes. In swimming, the women's 4×200 m freestyle relay was held for the first time.- Medals table :-Diving:MenWomen...
– Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
- Gold medal – 100 m breaststroke
- Silver medal – 200 m breaststroke
1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
– Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
- Silver medal – 4x100 m medley relay (1.00.90 split)
- Fourth place – 100 m breaststroke (1.02.38)
Canadian National Championships (including separate trials meets)
- 17-time national champion, 100 m breaststroke
- 14-time national champion, 200 m breaststroke
- 2-time national champion, 200 m butterfly
- 2-time national champion, 200 m individual medley
- 1 national championship, 400 m individual medley
External links
- Official Victor Davis Movie Site
- Order of Canada Citation
- See Dave Stubbs review of the making of the movie here.
- Swimnews Magazine in 2000 ran a retrospective on Davis, see pages 6 – 7. Authored by Davis's 1987–1989 Pointe-Claire Swim Club teammate, Robert Pearson.
- Victor Davis Memorial Fund page – part of Guelph Marlin Aquatic Club website
- CBC (TV) Archives looking back at the 1984 LA Olympics
- Canadian Sports Hall of Fame profile of Victor Davis