Mike West

A backstroke swim specialist on Canada’s National Team from 1980 to 1986, Waterloo native Mike West revised the Canadian record book ten times in his 100 metre and 200 metre back stroking events. He also set a world record in the 200 metre backstroke at a meet in Winnipeg in 1984.

West earned two medals in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, three at the Commonwealth Games, two at the Pan American Games, four at the World Student Games (FISU), and the Canadian Inter-university Championships. A graduate in Health Studies from the University of Waterloo and in Medicine from Queen’s University in Kingston, he is currently practising medicine in Hamilton.

West was named the Canadian Amateur Swimming Association Athlete of the Year in 1985 and was the recipient of the Government of Canada Sports Excellence Award in 1983 and 1984. He trained in Waterloo at the Region of Waterloo Swim Club and the University of Waterloo.