Canadian Swimmers in the same league: Elaine Tanner aka Mighty Mouse vs Penny Oleksiak

Could we have the CBC present an in depth pool interview between Elaine and Penny to give the public a true insight of how it feels to be a winner on an international stage, and dealing with the aftermath of fame?  Elaine Tanner is from 'our' era.  Penny Oleksiak is from 'your' era.

Elaine Tanner "Mighty Mouse"  Born 1951   competed and won Gold at the Commonwealth Games and swam in the Olympics. 

Awards & Achievements

Swimming World Magazine  - 50 years later

To this day, the youngest person ever to win the Lou Marsh Trophy is Elaine Tanner, who won it in 1966. She won the award, which recognizes Canada’s best athlete, at age 15. This year marks the 50th anniversary of her accomplishment.

In 1966, Tanner won seven medals at the British Empire Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. Four of her medals were gold. She won the 110-yard butterfly, 220-yard butterfly, 440-yard individual medley and 440-yard freestyle relay. Tanner, nicknamed “Mighty Mouse,” also picked up three silvers at the meet. She was the first ever woman to win four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

Elaine Tanner continued her dominance at the 1967 Pan American Games. She set world records in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke at the meet, winning gold in both events. She also took three silver medals at the meet.

In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, the Canadian continued to bolster her resume. She picked up silver medals in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke, and also won a bronze in the 400-meter freestyle relay.

Elaine Tanner and other winners

Perhaps sports writer journalist Cam Cole (who doesn't know how to swim but when he fell into an open cesspool the other day in Rio he went through all the 'movements' .....) could provide the impetuous for Penny's introduction to the Lou Marsh Trophy with a shoulder to shoulder photo op.

Wikipedia Elaine Tanner

Swim Canada:

Back in the mid 1960’s Canada was a minnow in the international sports landscape.

At the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Summer Games, Canadian athletes won a grand total of five medals total. Even our beloved hockey teams were struggling internationally. Our best professional players were not allowed to participate at the Olympics and they didn’t compete at the world championships.

The world juniors and women’s worlds didn’t exist.

Yes, there wasn’t much to cheer about for Canadians at big international sports events.

That is until a 15-year-old swimming sensation from Vancouver called Elaine Tanner appeared on the scene. She wowed Canadians with her incredible athletic exploits and won their hearts with her uniquely Canadian charm. These powerful moments will continue to mark Canadian sport history.
..... SNIP .....

And just for once without Premier Christy Clark using either young ladies as a photo op backdrop to her May of 2017 election dreams.