Jamie McEwan (USA)
2023 Class | Champion
As a member of the US Whitewater Slalom Team and National C1 Champion in 1972 and 1975, Jamie’s Olympic Bronze Medal in Augsburg at the 1972 Olympic Games spurred a U.S. slalom craze which has never been repeated. Through Jamie, young paddlers saw their own potential in his commitment and grit. Jon Lugbill, C1 Champion and International Whitewater Hall of Fame Class of 2005 shared with Paddling Life shortly after Jamie’s passing at age 61 from cancer:
“Jamie’s bronze medal performance at the 1972 Olympics provided legitimacy to whitewater slalom in the United States. Paddling was all of a sudden an acceptable endeavor for people of all backgrounds and not just crazy people. A whole cadre of young paddlers including myself benefited from this because our parents were then willing to drive us to all of those rivers, lakes and ponds. Jamie did so much for others and with such ease. He was always smiling, being positive and seeing the potential for great things from those he met.”
Jamie brought home overall C2 wins from the 1987 World Championships, 1988 and 1989 World Cups, and his comeback in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympics in La Seu d’Urgell with C2 partner Lecky Haller was remarkable, finishing just out of the medals in 4th place. He continued to race on his own for many years as an inspiration to his local paddling club and with his son, Devin.
