Davey Hearn (USA)

2005 Class | Champion

Davey Hearn dominated the top levels of canoe slalom for over a decade (with Jon Lugbill). He was instrumental in collaboration with other top racers, in designing the Max series of canoes that revolutionized slalom racing.

Whitewater Slalom Canoe C1 Champion. Davey Hearn dominated the top levels of canoe slalom for over a decade (with Jon Lugbill), revolutionizing the sport while producing innovations in paddling technique and boat design. His return to the top of the podium in 1995 for a second individual World Championship title ten years after his first, along with three Olympic appearances underscores his influence on the sport over his 26 year competitive career. Davey Hearn continues to motivate and teach slalom athletes today in a career as a coach.

Champion Accomplishments:

Two-time Gold Medalist: ’85 & ’95 World Championship
Five-time Silver Medalist: ’79, ’81, ’83, ’87, ‘89 World Championship
Three-time Silver Overall Medalist: ’88, ’93, ‘97 World Cup
Bronze Overall Medalist: ’90 World Cup
Three-time Olympian: ’92, ’96, and ’00 Olympics

Racing Accomplishments

1975: Gold Medal – Open Boat Nationals – OC2W with Jean Brackett
1976: Gold Medals (3) -Open Boat Nationals – C1W, C2W Slalom and C2Mixed Downriver
1978: Gold Medal -Open Boat Nationals: OC2W with Carrie Ashton (5 seconds off OC2 Men’s gold)
1979: Gold Medal- Wildwater Nationals – C2Mixed with Mike Hipsher
1981: Gold Medal-Wildwater Nationals – C2Mixed with Mike Hipsher
1981: Gold Medal – World Wildwater Championships, C2Mixed with Mike Hipsher. Their time beat all US Men’s Teams and ranked 13th among all C2Men times. “This victory perhaps is our greatest single achievement in American Canoeing. Bunny and Mike anchored the men’s team relay and brought them into 4th place and finished the year undefeated, besting all US C2 Men competitors.
1982: Gold Medal Open Canoe Nationals – OC2 Mixed Masters with Payson Kennedy

Other Accomplishments:

Nineteen-time National C1 Champion (1976 to 2001)
Seven-time National C2 Champion (1977 to 1986)
National C1 Wildwater Champion (1980)
National C2 Wildwater Champion (1978)
US Olympic Committee Top 10 Sportsman of the Tear (1995)
USA Canoe Kayak Male Athlete of the Year (1995)
Designed more than 20 canoes used worldwide (with Jon Lugbill, Bob Robson, and David Knight)
Whitewater courses design consultant
Coach and advocate for slalom racing both nationally and internationally. Part of international athlete lobbying effort to ensure slalom venue in the 2000 Olympics.
1964: Chattooga River, Section 4 – Tandem Canoe with Al Barrett
Late ‘60s: West Fork of the Tuckaseegee – Whitewater Kayak
1995: First descent of the Grand Canyon – Tandem Canoe with Janet Smith

Davey Hearn (USA)

Champion Accomplishments:

Racing Accomplishments

Other Accomplishments:

Other Honorees