Mark Tewksbury is the star athlete who burst out of the water at the Barcelona Olympics; an Olympic Champion with gold, silver and bronze medals, numerous awards, inductions into three major Halls of Fame and a cover appearance on TIME Magazine.

He grew into the leader who traveled the world with the International Olympic Committee at 28, was on the executive of Toronto’s Olympic bid for 2008, and took a difficult and public stand for athletes’ rights and ethics in sport against the IOC. He later co-founded OATH, an organization that challenged the IOC to live up to its own ideals.

Tewksbury has become a champion for a number of important causes. He has proudly supported sick children and currently sits on the National Boards of the Special Olympics and the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation. For his ethical leadership and active humanitarianism he has received Honorary Doctorate of Laws degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the University of Calgary.

Mark has hosted television shows including How Its Made on Discovery Channel, authored three books and performed seminars and workshops around the world. He is a popular media commentator, has been the Master of Ceremonies for the Dalai Lama’s Canadian appearances in 2007 and 2009, and in 2008 was invited by the Government of France to address human rights at the United Nations in New York City.

Mark is currently living in Calgary, and is the Chef de Mission for the Canadian Olympic Team competing in London in 2012.

November 15, 2011