Gangwon Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Make a Mount Rushmore out of your country's Olympians. Pick 4 Olympians who would be immortalized on a mountain. The criteria is they have to have won a medal for your country. So by that criteria, Wayne Gretzky cannot be on Canada's Mount Rushmore. It's up to you whether you want to include someone who is culturally significant to your country, but without having contributed as much as others to the Olympic movement. For example, someone like Michael Jordan. Canada's Summer Olympic Mount Rushmore George Hodgson - won Canada's first ever swimming golds in 1912, in the 400m and 1500m freestyle Percy Williams - gold in 1928 in athletics 100m, greatest Canadian Olympian of the first half century Marnie McBean - 3-time gold medalist in rowing in 1992 and 1996 Donovan Bailey - gold in 1996 in athletics 100m, the greatest Canadian Olympian of all time Canada's Winter Olympic Mount Rushmore Barbara Ann Scott - won Canada's first non-hockey winter gold in figure skating 1948, "Canada's Sweetheart" Nancy Greene - won Canada's first alpine skiing gold in 1968 Mario Lemieux - captained the hockey team to its first gold in 50 years in 2002 Cindy Klassen - all-time Canadian medal record holder with six medals in 2002 and 2006, all in winter Honorable mentions to George Orton (Canada's first gold medalist in 1900), Clara Hughes (6-time medalist, the only one to win in both summer and winter, and over 4 Olympics!), Alex Bilodeau (first Canadian to win gold on home soil in 2010). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 You forget others like Alex Baumann (two gold, two world records), Gaetan Boucher (2 gold, 4 medals) and Marc Gagnon (5 medals, 3 gold) and even Charles Hamelin with the right performance in Sochi. And Marnie would be nothing without Kathleen. Also a gold medal in women's hockey would see two rise to the top as Canada's only 4 time Olympic Champions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intoronto Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 I would put Marc Gagnon on Canada's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Nice question Gangwon. At first I got mixed up and thought this was a Sochi thread and that you meant winter medallists. In which case I was going to say by the time you took "Aussie" Dale Begg-Smith out of the equation, it's easy for us - Steven Bradbury, Alisa Camplin, Torah Bright and Lydia Lassila. All time makes it an interesting debate though. I'd say: * Dawn Fraser is a must * Cathy Freeman is a must * Betty Cuthbert * Kieren Perkins Among other possibilities, I'd say Ian Thorpe has never really been affectionately embraced here as others, Ron Clarke would be a contender yet is still "the greatest Aussie Olympic athlete never to gave won gold", Shane Gould withdrew from the public spotlight and attention, and it's hard to think of any athlete outside swimming and track who would win the country's affection or regard as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gangwon Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 That's the beauty of it, you can only pick 4. I'll even condense it further, and combine the summer and winter: Canada's Olympic Mount Rushmore Percy Williams (1928 athletics) Barbara Ann Scott (1948 figure skating) Nancy Greene (1968 skiing) Donovan Bailey (1996 athletics) This takes care of 4 different generations too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningrings Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 -Edwin "Teddy" Flack - first Australian gold medalist at Athens 1896. (Athletics) -Dawn Fraser - four golds, Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964 - and tireless advocate of Australian amateur sport since then. (Swimming) -Cathy Freeman - one of the great female T&F stars of the 90s (Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney), lit the cauldron in 2000 and won gold/world record in the 400m later in those Games. (Athletics) -Ian Thorpe - now in the shadow of Michael Phelps, Thorpe was an extraordinary athlete in the pool, and contributed to Australia's hugely successful haul at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. Honourable mentions to Steven Bradbury, and his iconic gold medal at Salt Lake City 2002 (speed skating), Shane Gould (swimming, 1972), Kieran Perkins (swimming - 1992, 1996) and Peter Norman (athletics, 1968). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 I was trying to think of some of the older heritage medallists. As well as the ones you mentioned like Flack and Norman, I also mused Boy Charlton. It's hard though, when their names are not household names any more. But yes, any Aussie Olympic Mt Rushmore would have to include some of our pioneering greats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrishigh765 Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 USA Mount Rushmore of Olympians Michael Phelps Swimming-22 medals 18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze Carl Lewis-Track& Field 10 Medals 9 Gold, 1 silver Apolo Ohno Short Track Speed skating 8 medals 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 Bronze Jenny Thompson Swimming-12 medals 8 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 USA Mount Rushmore of Olympians Michael Phelps Swimming-22 medals 18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze Carl Lewis-Track& Field 10 Medals 9 Gold, 1 silver Apolo Ohno Short Track Speed skating 8 medals 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 Bronze Jenny Thompson Swimming-12 medals 8 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze And leave out Jesse Owens?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotguy Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Scottish Mount Rushmore of Olympians Sir Chris Hoy - 2004, 2008, 2012 Cycling Gold Medalist Andy Murray - 2012 Tennis Gold Medalist Alan Wells - 1980 100m Gold Medalist Shirley Robinson - 2000, 2004 - Sailing Gold Medalist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanMUC Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 For Germany, maybe a mix of Winter/Summer, Male/Female and reflecting the decades of separate teams: Carl Schuhmann - 4 golds in Athens 1896 Ulrike Meyfarth - high jump gold 1972 and 1984, icon of the Munich games Katarina Witt - figure skating gold 1984 and 1988, East Germany's darling Markus Wasmeier - double gold in Lillehammer or Georg Hackl, 3 gold 2 silver in Luge 1988 - 2002 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olympic Fan Darcy Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Nice question Gangwon. At first I got mixed up and thought this was a Sochi thread and that you meant winter medallists. In which case I was going to say by the time you took "Aussie" Dale Begg-Smith out of the equation, it's easy for us - Steven Bradbury, Alisa Camplin, Torah Bright and Lydia Lassila. All time makes it an interesting debate though. I'd say: * Dawn Fraser is a must * Cathy Freeman is a must * Betty Cuthbert * Kieren Perkins Among other possibilities, I'd say Ian Thorpe has never really been affectionately embraced here as others, Ron Clarke would be a contender yet is still "the greatest Aussie Olympic athlete never to gave won gold", Shane Gould withdrew from the public spotlight and attention, and it's hard to think of any athlete outside swimming and track who would win the country's affection or regard as much. I must disagree Dawn Fraser Cathy Freeman Ian Thorpe Libby Trickett Well the last one i'm sure would be disputed. I personally loved Libby Trickett. Dawn Fraser definitely one of our olympic highlights same with Cathy Freeman. Ian Thorpe was an amazing athlete. Confused as to why you think Kieren Perkins should be up there? I'd even put Grant Hackett above him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningrings Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Kieran Perkins is just so likeable. Does the guy ever frown? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gangwon Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Awesome, I just learned about Dawn Fraser and Cathy Freeman. It's cool learning about what each country values, and who shaped the country. USA Mount Rushmore of Olympians Michael Phelps Swimming-22 medals 18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze Carl Lewis-Track& Field 10 Medals 9 Gold, 1 silver Apolo Ohno Short Track Speed skating 8 medals 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 Bronze Jenny Thompson Swimming-12 medals 8 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze I'm guessing you wanted to include both winter/summer? I didn't even expect Ohno but that's a good choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Eddie the Eagle for us 16-year old MENS from London, England!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony E Loves Architecture Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Eddie the Eagle for us 16-year old MENS from London, England!! Very funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrishigh765 Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 And leave out Jesse Owens?????? I completely forgot about him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4gamesandcounting Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 For Great Britain: Seb Coe Steve Redgrave Mary Peters Chris Hoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 USA Mount Rushmore of Olympians Michael Phelps Swimming-22 medals 18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze Carl Lewis-Track& Field 10 Medals 9 Gold, 1 silver Apolo Ohno Short Track Speed skating 8 medals 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 Bronze Jenny Thompson Swimming-12 medals 8 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze Nah. I'd put: - Greg Louganis - Jim Thorpe - Mary Decker - Tonya Harding, the Bad Girl of Figure Skating!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ofan Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Nah. I'd put: - Greg Louganis - Jim Thorpe - Mary Decker - Tonya Harding, the Bad Girl of Figure Skating!! Believe it or not, Baron can name three athletes that aren't figure skaters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micheal_warren Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 This is a good topic For me (New Zealand) I think Peter Snell 3 Gold Medals (Athletics 1960-1964) Jack Lovelock 1 Gold Medal (Athletics 1936) Ian Ferguson 4 Gold Medals, 1 Sliver (Canoeing 1976-1992) Mark Todd 2 Gold, 3 Bronze (Equestrian 1984-2000, 2008-2013) Reserve: Barbara Kendall 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze (Sailing 1992-2008) Yvette Williams 1 Gold (Athletics 1952) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quaker2001 Posted January 14, 2014 Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Tough to do one for the United States because there are so many choices, both Winter and Summer. Hard to get it down to 4 (and I appreciate a Canadian starting this thread based on referencing a famous American monument) I have a feeling if you polled 100 Americans, no 2 people would have the same list. Here's mine.. SUMMER (you could fill about 4 Mount Rushmores with the number of famous American Olympians there have been) Jesse Owens Michael Phelps Mary Lou Retton Carl Lewis (** - I wanted to put Greg Louganis in to have all 4 of the big sports represented, but I can't justify him over Lewis or Mary Lou) WINTER Eric Heiden Bonnie Blair Dick Button Peggy Fleming (** - I thought about Ohno, but didn't think there should be 3 speed skaters on here.. maybe in time his legend will grow) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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