McGill Swimming: A Brief History

Dr. F. Munroe Bourne, McGill Swimming Alumnus and McGill Sports Hall of Fame Inductee.

The story of McGill Swimming is one of great distinction. The Men's swimming program was included in the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union program for the first time in 1909. The first six years of competition saw McGill win championships each year, and 1930 saw the start of a five year reign for the swimming team. McGill regained the swimming crown in 1949 at Toronto in the most decisive win ever registered in the C.I.A.U., winning every event but diving. 1950 saw a dual meet between McGill and Toronto, in which McGill won once again. In 1972, the Men's team won the C.I.A.U swimming title with Dave Johnson (Head Coach - National team '96) as team captain. The 1972 Redmen are still the last team from Quebec to win a C.I.A.U Swimming title.

The McGill Women's Swimming team originated in 1940, after previous attempts at starting one had failed. Until 1945, all intercollegiate meets were telegraphic, but after the war traveling meets were inaugurated. Toronto was host to the first meet in 1945. Since the start of these meets, there has been a continual battle between Toronto and McGill for the crown. McGill has taken the championship eight times and tied for it once in 1947. In 1950, McGill, in a thrilling battle, won by only one point over their rivals. At that time, only five universities, McMaster, Queen's, Western, Toronto and McGill sent teams to the meet. Coach Gladys Bean is the one responsible for building up these teams. She started the team in her undergraduate years (the 40's) and continued coaching until 1962. With her time and effort McGill became the dominant force on the swimming scene.

Canadian Olympic Medalist and former McGill Swimmer Marianne Limpert.

In 1972, the year the Men's team won a National title, funding to the swimming teams was cut down to the strict minimum. In 1976, the McGill Women's swimming team was combined with the men's program to form a co-ed team for the first time . In 1987, the Swimming team was re-established as a Level 1 team with full funding, and returned to the top ten in the C.I.A.U.

The names of McGill student-swimmers that stand out in memory are many and too numerous to mention in this brief history. Their performances are all part of McGill's swimming legacy and will long be remembered. Many of these former stars are still active in the Graduates swimming club, and their work and interest deserve much praise.

Through your years at McGill, your name will also be associated with the prowess, dedication and performances that so many have combined to produce.

This is just part of McGill's swimming tradition. Learn it, and help build it.

Richard Pound

Inducted Sep. 30, 2010

Richard Pound, a long-time Montreal-based lawyer specializing in tax litigation at the firm of Stikeman Elliott, he was born Richard William Duncan Pound in St. Catharines, Ont., on March 22, 1942 but was raised in numerous towns, including Ocean Falls, B.C., La Tuque, Que., and Trois-Rivieres. A star swimmer with the McGill University Redmen from 1958 to 1962 and from 1964 to 1967, he established school records in every freestyle event, winning three Canadian intercollegiate gold medals in each of his freshman, sophomore and senior years. He earned a commerce degree from McGill in 1962, followed by a bachelor's degree in arts from Sir George Williams University in 1963, where he made the Dean's Honour List. He returned to McGill to complete a law degree in 1967 and was honoured by the Scarlet Key Society.

The 6-foot-2, 163-pound sprinter became the first Canadian to swim the 100-yard freestyle in under 49 seconds and the 100-metre free in under 56 seconds. He owned every freestyle record in Canada up to 220 yards. A Canadian butterfly champion in 1961 and a four-time national freestyle champion (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962), he competed for Canada at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago and the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he was the only Canadian to be a finalist in two events, finishing fourth in the 4x400-metre medley relay and sixth in the 100m freestyle. Now, 50 years later, Pound still ranks as the last Canadian to make the Olympic final in the 100m free.

He also competed in the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, capturing one gold medal (with a Commonwealth record in the 110 free), two silvers and a bronze. Not only was he Canada's top freestyle sprinter in that era, he was also an outstanding intercollegiate squash racquets player, ranking nationally in both singles and doubles, winning the intercollegiate title twice.

Pound served as secretary of the Canadian Olympic Association in 1968, earned the presidency in 1977, was co-opted as a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1978, went on to serve 18 years on the IOC executive board. He also served 20 years as chair of the McGill Athletics Board, 23 years on the University's Board of Governors and 11 years as chancellor of McGill, receiving an honorary law doctorate in 2009.

In 2001, Pound received the Lester B. Pearson award, presented by Canadian Intercollegiate Sport, to a distinguished Canadian citizen and former university athlete whose personal achievements exemplify the ideals and purposes of amateur sport.  He was previously been inducted to the Canadian Aquatics Hall of Fame (1972), the Canadian Amateur Athletic Hall of Fame, the Quebec Swimming Federation Hall of Fame (1993) and the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame (2001). He also the International Swimming Hall of Fame's gold medallion award in 2002.

Among other honours, he received the Order of Canada and the Order of Quebec.

Andrea Nugent

Inducted Oct. 18, 2007

Andrea Nugent, born November 1, 1968 in Montreal, studied modern languages at McGill while competing with the swim team from 1988 to 1993. One of the most prolific swimmers in school history, she achieved All-Canadian honours three times. Over the course of her university career, Nugent won seven gold medals, two silvers and one bronze at the CIS national championships, establishing CIS meet records in the 50-metre butterfly and the 100m freestyle.

In the 1992-93 season, she went undefeated in 25 consecutive races (which included three events -- the 50- and 100-metre freestyles, plus the 100-metre butterfly). She went on to capture the Gladys Bean trophy as McGill's female athlete of the year and was also the Quebec conference nominee for the Howard-Mackie Award, presented to the top student-athlete in the country.

She won five medals for Canada during the World University FISU Games at Sheffield, England in 1991 and at Buffalo in 1993. A two-time Olympian for Canada, Nugent won bronze for Canada at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand and bronze at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. She also competed at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, where she served as captain of the swim team.

Nugent was the 20th Olympian to be inducted into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame on October 18th, 2007.

John David Hawes

Inducted Sep. 29, 2005

John David Hawes was born March 1, 1951 and graduated from McGill with a bachelor of science degree in 1972, followed by a diploma in education the following year. Currently residing in Stittsville, Ont., the native of Pointe Claire, Que., qualified for the CIAU national swim championships in each of his four seasons with the Redmen and was a two-time recipient of the Forbes trophy as McGill's male athlete of the year (1970-71 and 1971-72).

Hawes established 13 school records in 1971-72, leading McGill to its first-ever CIAU national title as the Redmen finished first of 21 teams. At the Nationals, Hawes established four CIAU meet records and won three gold medals to earn swimmer-of-the-meet and All-Canadian honours. Hawes also broke Canadian national records in three events -- the 100-yard backstroke (0:54.2), the 200 backstroke (1:59.4) and as part of the 4x100 freestyle relay (3:15.5). The next year, he captained the team and led McGill to the Quebec conference title for the second straight year.

He swam for Canada at the 1973 World University Games in Moscow, where he won bronze in the 200m backstroke. Hawes qualified to swim for the Canadian Olympic swim team at the 1972 Munich Games and four years later, competed at the Montreal Olympics in modern pentathlon.

1971-72 Redmen Swim Team

Inducted Oct. 16, 2003

The 1971-72 Redmen swim team, which captured the Quebec conference title and the Canadian university championship, was inducted to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

They won five of six meets to capture the Quebec title and the Canadian university championship. Coached by Fouad Kamal, they qualified 12 swimmers for the Nationals and set 14 McGill records and three CIAU meet records (100 free, 200 free, 4x100 free relay). McGill also won dual meets vs. Plattsburgh State (62-51) and Sir George Williams (73-40). They lost a dual meet vs. Toronto (53-56) but avenged that by edging out the Varsity Blues at the Nationals. McGill won the QUAA provincial championship meet at Laval, finishing first of six teams with almost double the point total of the next closest team. At the CIAU championships in Fredericton, they finished first of 21 teams with 367 points, just ahead of Toronto (345). John Hawes earned All-Canadian status and was named Swimmer of the Meet at the CIAU championships after winning three golds (100 yd back, 200 yd back, 4x200 yd free relay).

Other team members included co-captains Richard Zajchowski and Ron Nesbitt, plus Dave Johnson, who went on to a long career as coach of the Canadian national team, Doug Farnell, Ian Young, Jim Frost, Bill Coke, Dave Pope and Bob Carstairs, in addition to rookies Bill Gillespie, John Jackson and Chris Zajchowski.

Pauline McCullagh

Inducted Oct. 16, 2003

Pauline McCullagh was inducted into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. Born January 28, 1938, in Montreal, Pauline McCullagh, Bachelor of Arts 1960, competed in three sports: synchronized swimming, diving and swimming. Although a beginner in both synchro and diving, by her graduation McCullagh was intercollegiate champion in all three sports and captain of the victorious McGill team; she was a triple Canadian national champion in synchro (solo, figures and aggregate); and she had won silver medals in two Canadian national diving championships. McCullagh was also awarded the Quebec Lieutenant Governor's Medal for highest points in Canadian and Quebec synchro and became the first woman to earn the Sprenger Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and ability in aquatics.

In 1961, McCullagh again won the Canadian synchro solo title. In 1962, she won all four Canadian individual events -- solo, figures, strokes and aggregate -- and was awarded First Class Honours by the International Academy of Aquatic Art. Later, as a Masters swimmer, McCullagh set three world records -- in 200- and 400-metre individual medley and 1500-metre freestyle -- and Canadian records in all four strokes.

Robert Cameron Lundy Grout

Inducted Sep. 6, 2002

Cameron Grout, a native of Oakville, Ont., who swam and played waterpolo for McGill, was inducted to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Robert Cameron Lundy Grout was born on Oct. 23, 1939 in Montreal and competed for three years with the McGill swim and waterpolo teams (1957-60) before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1962. A winner of the Forbes trophy in 1959-60 as McGill male athlete of the year, he won eight intercollegiate titles and set school records in 10 different events, specializing in the butterfly, individual medley and freestyle strokes. He also held numerous Quebec and Canadian records.

Selected twice as amateur athlete of the year by the Montreal Sportsman Association (1958 and 1959), Grout swam for Canada at the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he finished fourth in the 4x100m medley relay and also swam in the 200m butterfly and 100m freestyle. At the PanAm Games in 1959, he won silver in the 400m medley relay and bronze in the 800m freestyle relay. At the 1958 British Empire & Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, he won silver in the 4x110 medley relay and bronze in the 4x220 freestyle relay.

George Edward Vernot

Inducted Sep. 17, 1998

George Vernot was inducted to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. George Edward Vernot, born in Montreal on Feb. 27, 1901, was a two-time Olympic swimmer. At the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, Vernot became the second Canadian to win an Olympic medal in the men's 1500m freestyle, capturing silver. He is only one of three Canadians to win an Olympic medal in the men's 400m freestyle, earning bronze at Antwerp.

Vernot, who also competed at the 1924 Games in Paris graduated from McGill with a bachelor of science in 1926. He captained the McGill swim team from 1922 to 1925 and was a high-scoring forward on McGill's championship waterpolo team. He established Canadian university freestyle records from 50 to 220 yards and was part of McGill's record-breaking relay squad.

He died on Nov. 22, 1962 at the age of 61 and had a municipal park named after him in Montreal's St-Michel district.

George Ritchie Hodgson

Inducted Sep. 19, 1996

George Hodgson was an inaugural inductee to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. George Ritchie Hodgson, born on Oct. 12, 1893 in Montreal, was considered by many to be the greatest swimmer in Canadian history. He swam and played waterpolo at McGill from 1912 to 1916 while studying engineering (known then as applied science).

In 1911 he created waves by winning the mile at the Festival of Empire Games in London, England, now known as the Commonwealth Games. Using an innovative trudgeon stroke - a cross between the crawl and the sidestroke - he became the first Canadian to win two Olympic gold medals, capturing the honors at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. During the Olympic one-mile swim, in what was described as a lagoon, he broke three world records (1,000m, 1,500m and the mile), winning gold in the 1,500m freestyle in a time of 22 minutes flat. A few days later he set another world record, winning the 400m freestyle in 5:24.4. After serving in the war he returned to compete in the 1920 Olympics at Antwerp, Belgium.

Hodgson, who was considered as the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association's greatest one-sport athlete, was inducted to the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 1949 and died in Montreal on May 1, 1983.

Dr. F. Munroe Bourne

Inducted Sep. 19, 1996

Dr. F. Munroe Bourne was born in Victoria on June 26, 1910. He graduated from McGill in 1931 with honours in English & Political Science. He was awarded a Rhodes scholarship and later returned to McGill in 1935 before graduating in Medicine in 1937.

Bourne captained three McGill teams, leading them to championships in swimming (twice), track (four times) and waterpolo (twice). He was an intercollegiate champion in four swim events and four track events. One of McGill's finest international athletes, he held five intercollegiate swim records and two Canadian records.

He swam for Canada at three Olympics: Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932) and Berlin (1936), winning a bronze medal at the 1928 Games in the 4x200m relay. At the 1936 Olympics, he captained the swim team and anchored the track relay squad. He also won three gold medals at the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton.

After graduation, he served as a member of the McGill Athletics Board and earned the rank of Major in the military where he served from 1940 to 1946. He was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame in 1972 and died on July 11, 1992 in Rothesay, N.B. He was inducted to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in September, 1996.