George Vernot facts for kids
![]() George Vernot in 1920
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Quick facts for kids Sport |
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Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||
Strokes | Freestyle | ||||||||||||||||
Club | Montréal SC McGill Martlets |
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College team | McGill University | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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George Edward Vernot (born February 27, 1901 – died November 22, 1962) was a Canadian swimmer. He was especially good at freestyle swimming. George Vernot proudly represented Canada at the Olympic Games. He won two medals for his country.
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George Vernot: Canada's Olympic Swimmer
George Vernot was a talented swimmer from Montreal, Quebec. He competed for Canada in two different Olympic Games. These were the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium, and the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Olympic Success in 1920
At the 1920 Olympic Games, George Vernot achieved great success. He won a silver medal in the 1500 metre freestyle swimming event. This is a very long race that tests a swimmer's endurance. He also earned a bronze medal in the 400 metre freestyle event. This shows he was strong in both longer and middle-distance races.
University Life and Later Career
After his Olympic achievements, George Vernot continued his education. He attended McGill University in Montreal. There, he studied civil engineering, which is about designing and building things like roads and bridges. While at university, he kept swimming in amateur and college competitions. He also played water polo, which is a team sport played in water.
George was chosen to swim for Canada again at the 1924 Olympics. However, he did not win any medals this time. He was eliminated in the semifinals for both the 1500 metre and 400 metre freestyle races. In 1926, he graduated from McGill University. After graduating, he decided to stop competing in swimming.
After retiring from swimming, George Vernot worked for the City of Montreal. He became an important leader in the city government. In 1948, he was made the chairman of the Board of Assessors. This role involved valuing property for taxes.
Remembering George Vernot
George Vernot passed away in Montreal on November 22, 1962. To honor his contributions, the City of Montreal named a park after him. This park was named on April 10, 1969, making sure his legacy lives on.