Donovan Bailey appointed to Order of Canada

One of Canada’s most iconic Olympic athletes of all time Donovan Bailey was appointed an Officer of Order of Canada on Wednesday, among 85 appointees from the worlds of film, music, science, politics, business, academics, sport and culture.

The Order of Canada is one of the highest civilian honours, and recognizes those who have made special contributions to the nation.

Bailey, who immigrated to Canada from Jamaica when he was 12, won gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. At the time, his 9.84 seconds set a world record, which stood for two years and 11 months. Bailey still holds the Canadian 100m record to this day.

He also won gold with the men’s 4x100m relay team at the 1996 Olympics alongside Bruny Surin, Glenroy Gilbert and Robert Esmie.

In 1997, Bailey raced against the 200m Olympic champion Michael Johnson over 150m at Toronto’s Skydome to determine the World’s Fastest Man. Bailey won the race in 14.99 seconds, with Johnson pulling up halfway.

The three-time world and two-time Olympic champion retired from track and field in 2001 to start his own company, helping amateur athletes promote themselves onto the scene. In 2004, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Since 2008, Bailey has worked on and off as a track commentator for CBC during the summer Olympics.