World Rowing e-Magazine, Summer 2006

Heroes of the past:
Kathleen Heddle
and Marnie McBean

Quiet Heddle, outgoing McBean. They may have been contrary out of the boat but in the eight, pair, quad and double it was utter synchronisation and four Olympic medals at just two Olympic Games.

After their double victory in Barcelona 1992, followed by a double medal act at the 1996 Olympics, Heddle and McBean became the first Canadians to win three Olympic gold medals.

Both athletes were part of a crop of very successful women in Canadian rowing under the guidance of coach Al Morrow who mastered the 1992 Olympic Games by winning the eight, four and pair.

up later,” says Heddle. “Just get through the week making sure we got a good spot in the finals but spending only the energy we needed to.”

McBean remembers at a regatta in 1991 a British rower coming up and saying, “I think you’re all stark raving bonkers.” The duo used the comment as extra racing fuel.

Heddle and McBean also moved effortlessly between sweep and sculling. “It was never an issue,” says Heddle. “I think this was good for us both mentally in that it gave us a break from the routine, and physically because we became very adaptable.”

McBean attributes much of her success to this group of women. “They all retired in 1992 but I took their strengths with me throughout my career.” McBean also admits that she was pretty competitive. “I wasn’t the biggest or tallest and I loved to take down those who were bigger.”

Heddle, in 1996, retired for good, “I didn’t feel the need to prove anything further to myself or anyone,” she says, while McBean kept rowing towards the 2000 Olympics. But a back injury in the eleventh hour forced her out of competition and into retirement.

Marnie McBean (r) and Kathleen Heddle of Canada on the victory podium at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA). / Les rameuses canadiennes Marnie McBean (d) et Kathleen Heddle sur le podium de victoire aux Jeux Olympiques de 1996 à Atlanta (USA).

Heddle, who retired in 1992 following the Olympics, was then persuaded to return to rowing by McBean. “She’s the best rower Canada has ever produced. I was privileged to row with her,” says McBean. The duo swapped to sculling and proceeded to win the double and earn bronze in the quad at the 1996 Olympics.

Heddle can count on her fingers the times she’s been in a boat since her 1996 retirement.

Still active in rowing McBean will often take her single with her on weekend trips to lakeside cottages. She lends her time to Rowing Canada Aviron as vice president of marketing and does some coaching consultancy work. McBean is also the rowing commentator for Canadian television.

It is 10 years since they won gold, but McBean and Heddle are still recognised on the street, McBean more so especially her name.

Rowing in two boat classes at one Olympics presented challenges, but McBean saw it only in a positive light. “I looked at the strengths of doing two events. I think there are advantages of combining small boat efficiency with big boat power and blending these into each boat,” says McBean. “I always wanted to double up.” “Mentally I think we just had to take each race separately, not get overwhelmed with races coming

“It is difficult to fit in with my present lifestyle, and I enjoy alternative activities such as running or biking where I have absolutely no expectations for myself,” says Heddle. “As my children grow up and I have more free time, I hope to get back into rowing regularly, for fun, as I do miss it very much.”

McBean is the sports celebrity working in the sporting industry. She carries out this interview while driving to a charity golf tournament. Since retirement McBean has stayed active by dabbling in adventure racing including a six-and-a-half day Ecochallenge as part of a celebrity sports team.

“I get comments from strangers that I look familiar but they can’t quite place me and they wonder if they went to school with me or something. My daughter (four-year-old Lyndsey) knows that my husband Mike Bryden and I used to row, but it goes no further than that,” says Heddle, “at the moment.” Marnie McBean and Kathleen Heddle win