Frank Amyot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Frank Amyot

Amyot after winning Canadian Canoe race at 1936 Olympics
Personal information
Birth name	Francis Amyot
Born	(1904-09-14)September 14, 1904 Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
Died	November 21, 1962(1962-11-21) (aged 58) Ottawa, Ontario
Height	6 ft 2 in
Weight	185 lb
Sport
Country	Canada
Sport	Canoe racing
Club	Britannia Yacht Club
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals	1938
Medal record Men's canoe sprint Competitor for Canada Gold 1936 Berlin C-1 1000 m

Francis Amyot (born September 14, 1904 – died November 21, 1962) was a Canadian athlete. He was a champion in sprint canoeing during the 1930s. Frank is famous for winning Canada's only gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Frank Amyot's Life Story

Frank Amyot was born in Thornhill, Ontario. He was a brave person. On June 18, 1933, he saved two football players. Their names were Dave Sprague and Eddie Bond from the Ottawa Rough Riders. Their canoe had flipped over on Lake Deschenes. Frank helped them from drowning.

Winning Olympic Gold

Frank Amyot won Canada's only gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics. This happened in the C-1 1000m canoeing event. It was a big surprise for Canadian officials. They had not wanted to pay for Frank to go to the Olympics.

In 1936, the Britannia Boating Club helped Frank. They raised money for his Olympic trip. When he won, it was a huge moment. Frank raced a special type of Canadian canoe. This was different from the canoes he usually raced. He had only seen drawings of this canoe before. He first paddled it during his final training in Germany.

During World War II

On July 18, 1942, Frank Amyot was a Lieutenant. He met with 17 members of the Britannia Boating Club. They were all working for the war effort. This meeting happened in London, England, during World War II.

Frank Amyot's Legacy

Frank Amyot is remembered as a Canadian hero. He was honored in several ways.

Hall of Fame Inductions

In 1949, Frank was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. This means his achievements were recognized as very important. Later, in 1955, he was also inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

Memorial Trophy

In 1964, the Britannia Yacht Club created a special award. It is called the Frank Amyot Memorial Trophy. This trophy is given to young men who compete in C-15 canoe races. It is part of the Canoe Kayak Canada championships. This award remembers Frank Amyot. He was a lifelong member of the club. He was also an Olympic gold medalist and a famous sports figure.

Club Display

In 2012, the Britannia Yacht Club honored Frank again. They put up a display in their stairwell. It includes a photo of Frank Amyot. It also shows a collection of his trophies.

Britannia Yacht Club stairwell features photo of Frank Amyot and trophies