Victor Davis facts for kids
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| Born | February 10, 1964 Guelph, Ontario |
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| Died | November 13, 1989 (aged 25) Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec |
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| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 87 kg (192 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Swimming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Breaststroke, butterfly, individual medley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Region of Waterloo Swim Club, Pointe-Claire Swim Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Victor Nicolas Davis (February 10, 1964 – November 13, 1989) was a famous Canadian swimmer. He was an Olympic and world champion. Victor was best known for his amazing skills in the breaststroke swimming style. He also did very well in individual medley and butterfly races.
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Victor Davis's Life and Career
Victor Davis was born in Guelph, Ontario. When he was a boy, he learned to swim in the lakes near his home. At age 12, he joined the Guelph Marlin Aquatic Club.
During his swimming career, Victor set several world records. He won 31 national titles in Canada. He also earned 16 medals in big international swimming events.
In 1982, at the World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Victor set his first world record. He won a gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke race.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, Victor won a silver medal. This was for the 100-metre breaststroke event. Then, he won a gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke. He set another world record in that race!
Because of his great achievements, Victor was named Swimming Canada's Athlete of the Year three times. The Canadian government also made him a Member of the Order of Canada. This is a special honour for Canadians who have done amazing things.
Victor was a star on Canada's national swim team for nine years. He stopped competing in swimming in July 1989. He was added to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985. After his death, he was also added to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1994, he joined the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Victor Davis's Legacy
Victor Davis's parents followed his wish to donate his organs. This helped to save the lives of other people. His heart, liver, kidneys, and corneas were used for transplants.
Every year since Victor's death, awards are given out. These awards come from the Victor Davis Memorial Fund. They help young Canadian swimmers pay for their education while they train. Many swimmers who received this award have gone on to compete in the Olympics. For example, thirteen award winners were in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
In 2002, Victor Davis was added to the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. In his hometown of Guelph, the city named the 50-metre swimming pool after him.
Film About Victor Davis
Victor's life and achievements were shown in a movie. It was a two-hour drama film called Victor. A Canadian former swimmer named Mark Lutz wrote the film. He also played Victor in the movie.
Major Swimming Achievements
Victor Davis had many important moments in his swimming career. Here are some of his biggest achievements:
1982 World Aquatics Championships
These championships took place in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
- Gold medal in the 200 m breaststroke. He set a new world record of 2:14.77.
- Silver medal in the 100 m breaststroke.
1982 Commonwealth Games
These games were held in Brisbane, Australia.
- Gold medal in the 200 m breaststroke.
- Silver medal in the 100 m breaststroke.
1984 Canadian Olympic Trials
This event was in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.
- He won the 200 m breaststroke. He broke his own world record with a time of 2:14.58.
1984 Summer Olympics
These Olympic Games were in Los Angeles, United States.
- Gold medal in the 200 m breaststroke. He set another world record with a time of 2:13.34.
- Silver medal in the 100 m breaststroke.
- Silver medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay.
1986 Commonwealth Games
These games took place in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Gold medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay.
- Gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke.
- Silver medal in the 200 m breaststroke.
1986 World Aquatics Championships
These championships were held in Madrid, Spain.
- Gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke.
- Silver medal in the 200 m breaststroke.
1988 Summer Olympics
These Olympic Games were in Seoul, South Korea.
- Silver medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay.
- Fourth place in the 100 m breaststroke.
Canadian National Championships
Victor won many national titles in Canada:
- 17 times national champion in the 100 m breaststroke.
- 14 times national champion in the 200 m breaststroke.
- 2 times national champion in the 200 m butterfly.
- 2 times national champion in the 200 m individual medley.
- 1 time national champion in the 400 m individual medley.
See also
- List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
- List of Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming (men)
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
- World record progression 200 metres breaststroke
