A Canadian off the radar has won Canada’s eleventh medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
According to CTV, Derek Drouin of Sarnia, Ontario won the Olympic bronze medal in the men’s high jump despite not being to a World Championship before and not clearing 2.3 metres.
Drouin, who finished tied for third place with Robert Grabarz of Great Britain and Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, jumped only 2.29 metres.
According to Olympic historian David Wallechinsky, Drouin, Brashim and Grabarz are the first Olympian high jumpers to medal at an Olympic Games without jumping 2.3 metres since the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. That year Greg Joy of Victoria, British Columbia won the Olympic Silver medal with a jump of 2.23 metres. Joy, also became the highest profile Canadian athlete at the first Olympic Games held in Canada and won the 1976 Canadian Male Athlete of the Year Award for his achievement.
No Canadian won an Olympic medal in the men’s high jump since today.
Drouin does have a strong resume however. As a member of the University of Indiana, he was a three-time NCAA champion and won a Diamond League meet at only 2.26 metres in London last month. His 2.31m at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Calgary in June set a personal best.
At only 22 years of age, Drouin has a very bright future in high jump. Ivan Ukhov of Russia won with a jump of 2.38 metres and Erik Kynard of the United States won the Olympic silver medal with a jump of 2.33 metres.
Mark Boswell of Brampton, Ontario, two-time world championship bronze medallist, still has the Canadian record of 2.35 metres.
Canada now has won one gold medal, three silver medals and seven bronze medals.
Tags: 2012 olympics, derek drouin, erik kynard, greg joy, high jump, ivan ukhov, mark boswell, mutaz essa barshim, robert grabarz
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