Graham Hood is a retired track and field

Track and field

Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...

 athlete from Canada

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...

, who competed in the middle distance events.

Hood represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1992

Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics

At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 43 events in athletics were contested, 24 events by men and 19 by women. The competition ran from July 31, 1992 to August 9, 1992. Fourteen world record-holders were among the contenders...

. He won the gold medal in the men's 1.500 metres at the 1999 Pan American Games

Athletics at the 1999 Pan American Games

The athletics competition at the 1999 Pan American Games was held in Winnipeg, Canada. Two new events were introduced for women: pole vault and hammer throw. In addition the 20 km road walk replaced the 10,000 m track walk.-Track:-Field:-Track:...

 in his native Winnipeg.

Hood ran collegiately for the college track powerhouse Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas Razorbacks

The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...

 where he was named most outstanding performer among college men at the 1994 Penn Relays

Penn Relays

The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...

.

Hood grew up in Burlington, Ontario

Burlington, Ontario

Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...

 with his parents and younger sister. He attended Nelson High School

Nelson High School

Nelson High School of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, is located in Burlington's South Central area and serves approximately 1400 students between grades 9 and 12 in the Halton District School Board.-Basic Information:...

and played rep soccer for many years as a youth.