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Les McDonald
Les McDonald ironman.jpg
McDonald in 1987
Born (1933-04-30)30 April 1933
Felling, Tyne and Wear, England
Died 4 September 2017(2017-09-04) (aged 84)
Citizenship British, Canadian
Organization International Triathlon Union
Title President
Term 1989-2008
Successor Marisol Casado
Awards BC Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, ITU Hall of Game, IOC Women and Sport Award
Honours Order of Canada, Olympic Order

Les McDonald, CM (30 April 1933 – 4 September 2017) was a Canadian athlete and administrator. He was the founding President of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) from 1989-2008, and was made an Honorary President for the organization until his death in 2017.

McDonald is largely credited with getting the sport of triathlon into the Olympic Games, with the inaugural race taking place at the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney, Australia, in 2000. He is a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (2007), the BC Sports Hall of Fame (2009), and the ITU Hall of Fame (2014). He was awarded the Olympic Order in 2010, in Vancouver, by the International Olympic Committee.

McDonald was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2013 by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada.

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