Explore a selection of artifacts from the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame’s curation team online, or visit us in Aurora.
Accreditation pass worn by Thompson during the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta. When reflecting on the pass, specifically the photo, Thompson recalls, “I had these photo gray glasses that for some reason stayed dark all the time. Each accreditation brings back memories.”
To see one of the medals won by Thompson during the 1978 Commonwealth Games please see artifact SH2017.2.24.
Photograph of Thompson in the pool celebrating after he just tied the men’s 100m butterfly world record with a time of 53.17 seconds. Thompson tied this record during the 1983 Canadian Winter Swimming Nationals in British Columbia and remembers it as, “an incredible moment for me one of those rare peak performances- an amazing second 50!”
During the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Thompson brought home gold in the 100m butterfly and the 100m medley relay. The medal pictured is from the 100m medley relay, the team consisted of Bill Sawchuk, Graham Smith, Jay Tapp and Dan Thompson. When speaking about the event Thompson says, “We beat the mighty Australian team in this event. A huge win for Canada as it was the last race of the games. This meant we won more Gold during the Commonwealth games in swimming for the first time ever.”
Thompson brought back two silver medals from the 1979 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico for the 100m medley relay and 100m butterfly. This is the medal he won in the 100m butterfly and recalls, “the race was outdoors and it was a beautiful evening- I just got touched out!”
Thompson broke onto the international swimming scene in 1977 at the World Student Games in Sofia, Bulgaria. At the Games, he won silver in the 100m medley relay and the 100m butterfly. Thompson reflects on this milestone event and specifically the 100m butterfly race: “My first big international event winning a silver medal at the 1977 World Student games in Sofia Bulgaria. When we arrived, the water was green. The race was outdoors and I won this medal in a driving rain storm.”
This jacket was part of the uniform for the 1980 Canadian Olympic Swim Team. Thomson was selected as the Captain of the entire Canadian team, however; the boycott of the Moscow Olympics prevented Canada’s participation therein.
Thompson reflects, “I’m proud to have earned this uniform, wish it would have gotten more use!”
