Mike Smith

Michael ("Mike") C. Smith (born September 16, 1967) is a Canadian world-class decathlete from Kenora, Ontario. He attended Pinecrest Elementary School, Lakewood Intermediate School, Beaver Brae Secondary School and then Central Technical School in Toronto for his final year of high school.

Smith attended the University of Toronto Commerce program during his athletic career. He was coached by Andy Higgins while living in Toronto and then by Les Gramantik when he moved to live and train in Calgary, Alberta in 1994.

Smith won a silver medal at the World Junior Track and Field Championships in 1986. At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, he placed 14th. At the 1990 Commonwealth Games Smith won a gold medal. In 1991, he was the silver medal winner at the World Track and Field Championships, and was the first North American to win the Götzis International Decathlon, which he won again in 1996.

In 1992 at Barcelona, Spain, Smith was the flag bearer for Canada at the Olympic Games. Unfortunately during the decathlon Smith pulled a hamstring and was forced to withdraw on the first day of the two-day competition. In 1994, he won gold at the Commonwealth Games for the second time.

The sum of Michael's personal bests in the individual disciplines of decathlon totals 9,362 points (the second best ever after Dan O'Brien).^[1]

Personal Best Performances

Day 1: 100 meters - 10.70 seconds, Long Jump - 7.76 meteres, Shot Put - 18.03 meters, High Jump - 2.14 meters, 400 meters - 47.06 seconds
Day 2: 110 meter hurdles - 14.24 seconds, Discus Throw - 52.90 meters, Pole Vault - 5.20 meters, Javelin Throw - 71.22 meters, 1500 meters - 4:20,04

Total: 9362 points

Smith retired from the sport of decathlon in 1999 and went on to a career in financial services and wealth management. He also works for CBC Television Sports as a color commentator for track and field events. Smith now resides in the Bahamas with his wife Angela where he is a financial advisor at Vida Wealth Management Inc. and now enjoys many outdoor sports including fly fishing, windsurfing and kiteboarding.

Achievements

Smith running the 400 meters

References

• Canadian Olympic Committee

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