Dave Steen
Encyclopedia
David Lee Steen, CM
(born November 14, 1959, in New Westminster, British Columbia
) is a retired Canadian decathlete
, a three-time member of the Canadian Summer Olympic Games team and the first Canadian to score more than 8,000 points in the decathlon.
He was named after his uncle, David Lorne Steen, a Canadian shot putter and gold medallist at the 1966 Commonwealth Games. His father, Don Steen, was Canadian decathlon champion in 1956.
Steen won the decathlon gold medal at the 1977 Canada Games
. Steen was named to the 1980 Canadian Olympic team, but did not compete due to the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
. He won a silver medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games
and gold at the 1983 Pan American Games
. After a disappointing eighth place finish at the 1984 Summer Olympics
, Steen won silver at the 1986 Commonwealth Games
and won the bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics
.
In 1990, Steen was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. He has been inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame
(1991) and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
(1992).
He now resides in Tecumseh
, Ontario
, with his wife Andrea, who was also a Canadian Olympic athlete. Together they have four children. He works as a firefighter.
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...
(born November 14, 1959, in New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....
) is a retired Canadian decathlete
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
, a three-time member of the Canadian Summer Olympic Games team and the first Canadian to score more than 8,000 points in the decathlon.
He was named after his uncle, David Lorne Steen, a Canadian shot putter and gold medallist at the 1966 Commonwealth Games. His father, Don Steen, was Canadian decathlon champion in 1956.
Steen won the decathlon gold medal at the 1977 Canada Games
Canada Games
The Canada Games is a high-level multi-sport event with a National Artists Program held every two years in Canada, alternating between the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games. Athletes are strictly amateur only, and represent their province or territory.The Games were first held in 1967...
. Steen was named to the 1980 Canadian Olympic team, but did not compete due to the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics boycott of the Moscow Olympics was a part of a package of actions initiated by the United States to protest the Soviet war in Afghanistan...
. He won a silver medal at the 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...
and gold at the 1983 Pan American Games
1983 Pan American Games
The ninth Pan American Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela from August 14 to August 29, 1983. The games were the first major international competition to include relatively accurate steroid testing...
. After a disappointing eighth place finish 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...
, Steen won silver at the 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:...
and won the bronze medal at the 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...
.
In 1990, Steen was made 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...
. He has been inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame
BC Sports Hall of Fame
For over 40 years, the community has entrusted the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the responsibility to collect, preserve, study, and interpret materials that relate to British Columbia’s rich sport history...
(1991) 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...
(1992).
He now resides in Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
, 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....
, with his wife Andrea, who was also a Canadian Olympic athlete. Together they have four children. He works as a firefighter.