Press Release

Olympic Medalist Mark Tewksbury Dives Back Into Competition

Montréal, 25 November 2004 – Mark Tewksbury, three-time Olympic medalist and Co-President of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006, will compete in the 12th Annual Coupe de Montréal Masters Swimming Tournament at the Claude-Robillard Sport Centre on 27 November 2004 at noon. This will be the first time since Barcelona that the Canadian hero will take part in swimming competitions.

Winner of the gold medal in the 100 metre backstroke and the bronze medal in medley relay at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Mark Tewksbury also brought home the silver medal in the medley relay at the 1988 Olympics at Seoul, South Korea. He was also a four-time gold medal winner at the Commonwealth Games and set seven short course world records in the backstroke.

Mark Tewksbury “came out” in December 1998, becoming the first Canadian athlete to publicly declare his homosexuality. In 2001, Mark Tewksbury joined Montréal 2006 as Co-President of the Organising Committee of the 1st World Outgames, which will be held from 29 July to 5 August 2006 in Montréal.

Coupe de Montréal competitions will be organised by the À Contre-Courant aquatics club and will bring together more than 300 gay and lesbian swimmers. This Masters Swimming Tournament is sanctioned by the Québec Swimming Federation.

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