Five-time Olympian Charmaine Crooks named Canada Soccer interim president

On Wednesday, Canada Soccer named a familiar face in the Canadian track and field community as its new interim president. Five-time Olympian and middle-distance runner Charmaine Crooks will lead the national sport organization during an ongoing labour dispute with its men’s and women’s teams.

Two women elected to top Canada Soccer Board positions 🍁

Charmaine Crooks becomes Canada Soccer’s new acting President and first woman and person of colour to lead organisation.

Kelly Brown will take on the position of acting Vice-President.

— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) March 1, 2023

Crooks, who has been serving as vice president of Canada Soccer’s board of directors, takes over the role from Nick Bontis, who resigned on Monday.

Crooks enjoyed a lengthy and successful career as an athlete, winning a silver medal for Canada in the 4x400m at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She also served in roles with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) before joining Canada Soccer in 2020.

Crooks is a five-time Olympian between 1980 and 1996 and was the first Canadian woman to break the two-minute barrier in the women’s 800m. In 1996 she was Canada’s flag bearer at the opening ceremonies for the Atlanta Games. She was a Canadian champion on 11 occasions.

The 60-year-old has been an icon beyond her athletic career. She was on the board of directors for both the Vancouver Olympic 2012 bid and the Toronto Pan Am 2015 bid. She also helped with the failed 2008 Olympic games bid for Toronto (which was eventually awarded to Beijing).

In 2013, Crooks was named a Member of the Order of Canada, which is one of the highest civilian honours that recognizes individuals who have made special contributions to the nation.

Crooks becomes the first woman and person of colour to lead Canada Soccer. She will take on the role amidst an ongoing labour dispute with its men’s and women’s national teams, which have demanded transparency around sponsorship and broadcast deals.

“The job ahead for our organizations, our sport, and for the players who wear our Canadian jersey, is as important to me as any race I’ve competed in,” Crooks said in a news release. “I know and understand the calls to get this right, and I am certain that we will be able to deliver real progress for our national teams.”