Elaine Tanner
Encyclopedia
Elaine Tanner-Watt, OC
(born February 22, 1951 in Vancouver
, British Columbia
) is a retired Canadian
swimmer.
d "Mighty Mouse" partly because of her small stature (standing barely five feet tall) and partly due to her competitive drive, Tanner had a large impact on Canadian swimming and is considered one of the top performers in the sport.
During the 1966 Commonwealth Games
in Kingston, Jamaica
, Tanner won four gold medals and three silvers, becoming the first woman to ever win four golds at a Commonwealth Games. She was named Canada’s best athlete
in 1966 — the youngest person to ever receive the award — and was also selected this country’s top athlete overall. The following year at the Pan American Games
, Tanner won two gold and three silver medals in Winnipeg
, breaking two world records in the process. Tanner arrived at the 1968 Summer Olympics
as a heavy medal favorite. She earned three times in Mexico City, winning two individual silver medals and one relay bronze. Suffering from depression, Tanner retired from competition after the 1968 Olympics at just 18 years of age.
and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
in 1971. The Elaine Tanner Award has been presented to Canada’s top junior female athlete since 1972.
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 February 22, 1951 in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
) is a retired Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
swimmer.
Career
NicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "Mighty Mouse" partly because of her small stature (standing barely five feet tall) and partly due to her competitive drive, Tanner had a large impact on Canadian swimming and is considered one of the top performers in the sport.
During the 1966 Commonwealth Games
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from 4 August to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions....
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Tanner won four gold medals and three silvers, becoming the first woman to ever win four golds at a Commonwealth Games. She was named Canada’s best athlete
Lou Marsh Trophy
The Lou Marsh Trophy, also known as the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy and Lou Marsh Award, is a trophy that is awarded annually to Canada's top athlete, professional or amateur. It is awarded by a panel of journalists, with the vote taking place in December. It was first awarded in 1936...
in 1966 — the youngest person to ever receive the award — and was also selected this country’s top athlete overall. The following year at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
, Tanner won two gold and three silver medals in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, breaking two world records in the process. Tanner arrived at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
as a heavy medal favorite. She earned three times in Mexico City, winning two individual silver medals and one relay bronze. Suffering from depression, Tanner retired from competition after the 1968 Olympics at just 18 years of age.
Awards and accolades
In 1969, she was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder 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...
and was inducted into 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 1971. The Elaine Tanner Award has been presented to Canada’s top junior female athlete since 1972.