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1996 Atlanta Olympics: McBean & Heddle

Alex Baumann was best, stalwart Sylvie Frechette showed grace and Donovan Bailey left his rivals in the dust. From 1984 to 2000, CBC Radio and Television followed Canadian athletes chasing Olympic gold. They were the fastest and the strongest and they had Canadians from coast to coast smiling a little wider and cheering a little louder.

Call them the Oscar and Felix of rowing. Where Marnie McBean is brash and jovial, her rowing partner Kathleen Heddle is shy and reserved. Reporters flock to the pair and McBean enthusiastically offers her uncensored opinions. Heddle stands behind, comfortably observing the interview interplay from a distance. But put these two in a boat and they move as one, stroking forward in a graceful synchronicity. In this CBC Television feature, the champion rowers comment on the unique dynamics of their relationship and their much-anticipated comeback in Atlanta. 
. Heddle and McBean won gold in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the women's straight pair and as part of a team in the women's eights.
. In 1996, the dynamic duo narrowly edged out the Chinese team to win gold in the women's double sculls. The pair also won bronze in the quadruple sculls.

. Before striking Olympic gold, McBean and Heddle struggled to make ends meet as amateur athletes. In 1990, the pair sold hotdogs and nachos at minor league baseball games in London, Ont. to supplement their earnings.

. Following the 1996 Olympics, Kathleen Heddle retired from rowing and settled into private life. But McBean continued and was slotted to compete in the Sydney Olympics. She withdrew because of injury. Fighting back tears, McBean told a news conference, "I don't want to give up and stop hoping because my spirit is not about that but I am not going to be foolish and row in great pain because that's not what rowing is about to me."

. An advocate for amateur sport, McBean acted as a spokesperson for the Toronto 2008 Olympic bid. As of June 2004, McBean is preparing for the grand opening of the Olympic Spirit sports and entertainment complex in Toronto. McBean is the Olympic Spirit's director of corporate and athlete programs.
Medium: Television
Program: CBC Sports
Broadcast Date: July 27, 1996
Guest(s): Kathleen Heddle, Marnie McBean
Host: Brian Williams
Duration: 2:45

Last updated: February 10, 2012

Page consulted on August 21, 2012

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