John Lugbill
Encyclopedia
Jon Lugbill (born May 27, 1961) is widely considered to be the greatest whitewater
canoe
slalom racer ever. During the 1980s, he dominated international racing in Men's Individual C-1 (a decked canoe, similar to a kayak
). He is the only slalom
racer to ever appear on the Wheaties
box. He revolutionized the sport while producing innovations in paddling technique and boat design.
Jon started canoeing in the 1970s in the Washington, D.C.
area. He often trained daily in his C-1 using slalom gates set up on a feeder canal next to the Potomac River
near Great Falls
. During the winter, Jon and his fellow paddlers also trained in the David Taylor Model Basin
. He and some other fellow racers (notably David Hearn
) developed new designs of low volume decked canoes, using nylon, kevlar and fiberglass cloths mixed with epoxy resin.
In 1979
, Jon won the C-1 men's individual World Championship in canoe slalom at the first World Championships
to be held on the North American continent at Jonquière (Canada). This was the first time an American had won a gold medal in the world canoe slalom championships. Jon went on to win gold in his category several more times; 1981
at Bala
(Wales), 1983
at Meran (Italy
), 1987
at Bourg St. Maurice (France), and 1989
at the Savage River
(USA). In 1985
at Augsburg
(then in West Germany), Lugbill had to settle for the silver medal after David Hearn bested him for the gold.
Lubgill also won three consecutive overall world cup
titles in the C-1 category including the inaugural edition in 1988.
During the peak of Lugbill's career, whitewater canoeing was not included on the competition program of the Summer Olympic Games. His only appearance on the Olympic stage came in 1992
, when the sport returned to the Olympics after a 20-year absence. On the man-made course in La Seu d'Urgell
, Spain, Lugbill placed fourth
after being assessed for a five-second gate touch penalty at Gate 23 during his first run.
Born in Wauseon, Ohio
, Jon Lugbill now serves as the Executive Director of Richmond Sports Backers, and resides in Richmond, Virginia. He has two daughters, Kelly and Stephanie.
Jon lived in Archbold, Ohio until he was three years old. Then he moved to Vienna and then Fairfax, Virginia. He attended Lanier Intermediate School in Fairfax and Oakton High School. He graduated from the University of Virginia.
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
slalom racer ever. During the 1980s, he dominated international racing in Men's Individual C-1 (a decked canoe, similar to a kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
). He is the only slalom
Slalom canoeing
Whitewater Slalom is a competitive sport where the aim is to navigate a decked canoe or kayak through a course of hanging gates on river rapids in the fastest time possible. It is one of the two kayak and canoeing disciplines at the Summer Olympics, and is referred to by the International Olympic...
racer to ever appear on the Wheaties
Wheaties
Wheaties is a brand of General Mills breakfast cereal. It is well known for featuring prominent athletes on the exterior of the package, and has become a major cultural icon...
box. He revolutionized the sport while producing innovations in paddling technique and boat design.
Jon started canoeing in the 1970s in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area. He often trained daily in his C-1 using slalom gates set up on a feeder canal next to the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
near Great Falls
Great Falls of the Potomac River
The Great Falls of the Potomac River are located at the fall line of the Potomac River, upstream from Washington, D.C. Great Falls Park, operated by the National Park Service, is located on the southern banks in Virginia, while Chesapeake and Ohio Canal parkland is located along the northern banks...
. During the winter, Jon and his fellow paddlers also trained in the David Taylor Model Basin
David Taylor Model Basin
The David Taylor Model Basin is one of the largest ship model basins — test facilities for the development of ship design — in the world...
. He and some other fellow racers (notably David Hearn
David Hearn (canoer)
David Hearn is a slalom canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. He won seven medals in the C-1 event at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with two golds and five silvers .Hearn also competed in three Summer Olympics, earning his best finish of ninth in the C-1 event at...
) developed new designs of low volume decked canoes, using nylon, kevlar and fiberglass cloths mixed with epoxy resin.
In 1979
1979 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships
The 1979 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships were held in Jonquière, Quebec, Canada under the auspices of International Canoe Federation. This marked the first time the championships were held outside of Europe. The mixed C-2 event was not held at these championships...
, Jon won the C-1 men's individual World Championship in canoe slalom at the first World Championships
ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships
The ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships are an international event in canoeing organized by the International Canoe Federation. The World Championships have taken place every year in non-Summer Olympic years since 2002. From 1949 to 1999, they had taken place in odd-numbered years...
to be held on the North American continent at Jonquière (Canada). This was the first time an American had won a gold medal in the world canoe slalom championships. Jon went on to win gold in his category several more times; 1981
1981 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships
The 1981 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships were held in Bala, Wales, Great Britain under the auspices of International Canoe Federation. The mixed C-2 event was reinstated after not being held at the previous championships.-Canoe:-Kayak:-Canoe:...
at Bala
Bala, Gwynedd
Bala is a market town and community in Gwynedd, Wales, and formerly an urban district of the historic county of Merionethshire. It lies at the north end of Bala Lake , 17 miles north-east of Dolgellau, with a population of 1,980...
(Wales), 1983
1983 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships
The 1983 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships were held in Meran, Italy under the auspices of International Canoe Federation for a record-tying third time, matching the record set by Spittal, Austria . Meran hosted the event previously in 1953 and 1971...
at Meran (Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
), 1987
1987 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships
The 1987 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships were held in Bourg St.-Maurice, France under the auspices of International Canoe Federation for the second time. Bourg St.-Maurice hosted the event previously in 1969.-Canoe:-Kayak:-Kayak:-Medals table:...
at Bourg St. Maurice (France), and 1989
1989 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships
The 1989 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships were held on Savage River in Garrett County, Maryland near Pittsburgh in the United States under the auspices of the International Canoe Federation. As of 2009, it is the only time the championships have ever been held in the United States...
at the Savage River
Savage River (Maryland)
The Savage River is a river in Garrett County, Maryland, and is the first major tributary of the North Branch Potomac River from its source. The river was named for 18th century surveyor John Savage....
(USA). In 1985
1985 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships
The 1985 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships were held in Augsburg, West Germany under the auspices of International Canoe Federation for the second time. Augsburg hosted the event previously in 1957. It also marked the first time the championships took place on an artificial whitewater slalom...
at Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
(then in West Germany), Lugbill had to settle for the silver medal after David Hearn bested him for the gold.
Lubgill also won three consecutive overall world cup
Canoe Slalom World Cup
The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup has been held since 1988 in four canoe and kayak disciplines for men and women. The four original disciplines are men's single canoe , men's double canoe , men's kayak and women's kayak...
titles in the C-1 category including the inaugural edition in 1988.
During the peak of Lugbill's career, whitewater canoeing was not included on the competition program of the Summer Olympic Games. His only appearance on the Olympic stage came in 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, when the sport returned to the Olympics after a 20-year absence. On the man-made course in La Seu d'Urgell
La Seu d'Urgell
La Seu d'Urgell is a town located in the Catalan Pyrenees in Spain. La Seu d'Urgell is also the capital of the comarca Alt Urgell, head of the judicial district of la Seu d'Urgell and the seat of Bishop of Urgell, one of the Andorra co-princes...
, Spain, Lugbill placed fourth
Canoeing at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Men's slalom C-1
These are the results of the men's C-1 slalom competition in canoeing at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The C-1 event is raced by one-man canoes through a whitewater course. The venue for the 1992 Olympic competition was in La Seu d'Urgell....
after being assessed for a five-second gate touch penalty at Gate 23 during his first run.
Born in Wauseon, Ohio
Wauseon, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,091 people, 2,706 households, and 1,875 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,437.6 people per square mile . There were 2,851 housing units at an average density of 578.0 per square mile...
, Jon Lugbill now serves as the Executive Director of Richmond Sports Backers, and resides in Richmond, Virginia. He has two daughters, Kelly and Stephanie.
Jon lived in Archbold, Ohio until he was three years old. Then he moved to Vienna and then Fairfax, Virginia. He attended Lanier Intermediate School in Fairfax and Oakton High School. He graduated from the University of Virginia.