Charmaine Crooks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charmaine Crooks CM, OLY
Crooks in 2013
36th President of the Canadian Soccer Association
Incumbent
Assumed office March 1, 2023
Preceded by	Nick Bontis
Personal details
Born	(1962-08-08) August 8, 1962 (age 62) Mandeville, Jamaica
Alma mater	University of Texas at El Paso
Charmaine Crooks Personal information Nationality Canadian Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Weight 58 kg (128 lb) Sport Sport Running Event(s) 400 metres, 800 metres Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Canada Olympic Games Silver 1984 Los Angeles 4x400 m relay Commonwealth Games Gold 1982 Brisbane 4x400 m relay Gold 1986 Edinburgh 4x400 m relay Silver 1994 Victoria 800 m Bronze 1994 Victoria 4x400 m relay Pan American Games Gold 1983 Caracas 400 m Silver 1983 Caracas 4x400 m relay Silver 1987 Indianapolis 4x400 m relay Francophone Games Silver 1989 Casablanca 400 m Silver 1989 Casablanca 4x400 m relay Pan American Junior Athletics Championships Gold 1980 Sudbury 400 m Silver 1980 Sudbury 4x400 m relay Representing Americas World Cup Bronze 1981 Rome 4x400 m relay Gold 1989 Barcelona 4x400 m relay Silver 1992 Havana 400 m Gold 1992 Havana 4x400 m relay

Charmaine Crooks, born on August 8, 1962, is a Canadian businesswoman and a leader in sports. She used to be a very fast runner, competing in sprint and middle-distance races.

Charmaine was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, but she moved to Canada and represented the country in track and field for nearly 20 years. She competed in five Olympic Games. A big moment for her was winning a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She and her teammates, Jillian Richardson, Molly Killingbeck, and Marita Payne, set a Canadian record in the 4 x 400 metres relay.

Charmaine was the first Canadian woman to run the 800 metres race in under two minutes. She also won gold medals at other major events like the Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Cup. In 1996, she had the special honor of being Canada's flag bearer at the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She is one of nine children, with five sisters and three brothers.

Charmaine Crooks: Early Life and Education

Charmaine Crooks was born in Mandeville, Jamaica. When she was six years old, her family moved to Toronto, Canada. She went to Winona Public elementary school and West Toronto Secondary School. During her school years, she was very active in track and field.

High School and College Achievements

In 1979 and 1980, Charmaine was the top high school runner in Ontario for the 400 metres race. She later received a sports scholarship to attend the University of Texas at El Paso. While there, she was recognized as an 'All-American' six times for her athletic skills.

A Champion on the Track

Charmaine Crooks represented Canada in track and field for almost 20 years. She competed in five Olympic Games, which is a huge achievement!

Olympic Success

One of her most memorable moments was winning the silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She was part of the 4 x 400 metres relay team that made Canada proud.

Life After Running: Sports Leadership

After she stopped competing as a runner, Charmaine Crooks started working in sports management. She has become a very important leader in the world of sports.

Building a Career in Sports

Since 1994, Charmaine has been the president and founder of NGU Consultants. This company helps with sports marketing, management, and business advice. She also gives speeches at events around the world. She talks about important topics like teamwork, leadership, and the Olympic Movement.

Working with the Olympic Committee

In 1996, Charmaine was chosen to be part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes Commission. From 2000 to 2004, she was a full voting member of the IOC. She continues to be involved with the IOC Athletes' Commission. She has also been a member of the IOC Press Commission since 2001. Charmaine was also a founding member of the IOC Ethics Commission, which makes sure everyone follows fair rules.

As an elected member of the executive board of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Charmaine has many roles. She leads Olympians Canada, which is a group for past Olympians. She also chairs the COC's Awards and Recognition/Hall of Fame Committee. She was one of the first people to help with the bid for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. She also served as one of the directors for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).

Global Sports Involvement

From 2003 to 2011, Charmaine was elected by other Olympians to serve on the executive board of the World Olympians Association (WOA). She was also a Vice President for the WOA. She was the first Chair of the PASO Athletes' Commission. Charmaine also helped start Right To Play. This is an organization that uses sports to help young people in areas that need support.

Current Roles and Recognition

Charmaine is currently on the board of the Canucks Autism Network (CAN). She has also been an honorary member of Big Sisters of the Lower Mainland since 2000. She is also a member of FIFA's Organizing Committee for Competitions.

In 2006, the International Olympic Committee gave Charmaine the Women And Sport Trophy for Canada/America. This award recognized her important work.

In May 2021, Charmaine Crooks was named vice president of Canada Soccer. In May 2022, she received the Brian Budd Award. In December 2022, she was given the Order of Canada, which is a very high honor. On March 1, 2023, Charmaine became the interim president of the Canadian Soccer Association.

See also

In Spanish: Charmaine Crooks para niños