Athlete

Lesley Thompson-Willie - 2021 Hall of Fame Inductee

Lesley Thompson-Willie
Induction Year: 2021
Category: Athlete

Born in Toronto, Ont., Lesley Thompson-Willie’s legendary career as a coxswain began while attending Western University where she competed in both gymnastics and rowing. She helped lead the Mustangs rowing team to several OUA championships during her time at the school. Success at the highest levels of rowing soon followed and Thompson-Willie became a staple of the Canadian National Team for over 30 years.

“I am honoured to be nominated to and inducted into the Row Ontario Hall of Fame,” said Thompson-Willie. “I would like to acknowledge my teammates and coaches throughout my career without whom my success would not have been possible. I have learned so much from all of you. The support of my husband, Paul Willie, and my family has been deeply appreciated. As a member over the years, I would like to thank the following for their support: Western University Rowing, the London/Western Rowing Club, and the St. Catharines Rowing Club. Thank you to all the officials, volunteers, and sports organizations who have made training and competitions possible. I am grateful to Thames Valley Board of Education, in London, Ontario who allowed me to pursue my working career along with my sporting career. I have been proud to be part of Row Ontario and rowing community in Ontario.”

In 1980, Thompson-Willie was named to the Moscow Olympic Team, however Canadian athletes did not compete at those Olympics due to a boycott, so her Olympic debut would have to wait until four years later at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Thompson-Willie would win her first major international medal at those Games, claiming a silver as a member of the women’s coxed four. She would go on to compete at eight Olympic Games over the course of her career, tying the record for most appearances by a female athlete in 2016. Along the way she would win a total of five Olympic medals, putting her in a tie for third-most all-time by a Canadian athlete.

Following her silver medal in 1984, Thompson-Willie would compete in five straight Olympic Games, starting with the coxed four at the 1988 Seoul Olympics where the crew finished in seventh place. The pinnacle of her career came at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where she helped guide the women’s eight to a memorable gold medal finish. She would go on to win medals at three straight Olympics in the women’s eight, claiming the silver in Atlanta in 1996 and the bronze in Sydney in 2000. Following the Sydney Olympics, Thompson-Willie began coaching, but returned to the national team in 2006 and would go on to compete in three more Olympic Games as a coxie with the women’s eight. After a fourth-place finish Beijing in 2008, she would return to the podium with a silver medal in London in 2012. She wrapped up her Olympic career at the 2016 Rio Olympics at the age of 56 where she guided the women’s eight to a fifth-place finish.

In addition to her Olympic success, Thompson-Willie competed at the World Rowing Championships an incredible 19 times, winning ten medals (1 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze) highlighted by a gold with the women’s eight in 1991. She also earned a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 1986 and was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall Fame in 1994 and the London Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Thompson-Willie has always been a strong supporter of Ontario rowing, living in London and competing for the London-Western Rowing Club over the years when time and national team commitments allowed. She has been an active rowing coach as well, coaching at the high school and university levels before becoming a coach with the National Team program in Victoria, BC in 2017.

Career Highlights:

  • 8-time Olympian and 5-time Olympic medalist
    • 1984 Olympics – Coxed Four (Silver)
    • 1992 Olympics – Eight (Gold)
    • 1996 Olympics – Eight (Silver)
    • 2000 Olympics – Eight (Bronze)
    • 2012 Olympics – Eight (Silver)
  • Competed at 19 World Rowing Championships and won 10 medals (1 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze)
  • Commonwealth Games gold medalist (1986)
  • Tied the all-time record for most Olympic appearances by a female athlete in 2016 with 8 appearances
  • Her 5 Olympic medals are tied for third most all-time by a Canadian