George Athans learned some valuable lessons from his numerous triumphs in international water skiing, skills he would use to develop a successful career in television.
”Winning those world titles taught me a lot about hard work, time management, setting and reaching personal goals and also a sense of fair play,” said Athans. ”Those are things I use daily in my career today. ”Athans became famous in Canada in the early 1970’s earning the overall titles at the 1971 and 1973 world water skiing championships, the first Canadian world champion in the sport since Charles Blackwell in 1953 and only the third ever, at the time, to win consecutive world crowns.
He was bestowed with awards and honours soon afterwards including induction into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1971, Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and received the Order of Canada, also in 1974.
He was on the national team from 1966 to 1974. He broke 28 Canadian records in his career and won 10 consecutive national titles. Athans says that being among the first inductees into Water Ski & Wakeboard Canada’s Hall of Fame is a thrill.
”I’m honored to be recognized among such a select group of outstanding Canadian skiers,” he said. ”I’m amazed at how well Canada has done in world competition. Few sports have achieved so much success. If I have inspired any of those skiers that followed me then I’m very proud.”
Since his retirement, Athans has managed a successful television career. He kept a high public profile as a sports reporter for CBC Television in Montreal for many years. He still works in the TV business today as an award-winning producer and director.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 1971 – Overall Champion at World Championships
- 1973 – World Slalom Champion
- 1973 – World Best Single Round Score, Slalom
- 1973 – World Overall Champion
- 28-time Canadian record holder
- 10-time consecutive Canadian champion (1965 – 1974)
- 9-year member of the National Water Ski Team (1966-1974)
AWARDS
- 1971 British Columbia Athlete of the Year
- 1971 Named to Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame
- 1972 Canadian Amateur Athlete of the Year
- 1973 Canadian Amateur Athlete of the Year
- 1973 Quebec Athlete of the Year
- 1974 Named to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
- 1974 Named to ORDER OF CANADA
- 1980 Inducted to Quebec Sports Hall of Fame
- 1993 Inducted to the International Water Ski Federation Hall of Fame
National/International Results
- Competition Year Event Placing/Record
- Canadian Championships 1965 1st
- Canadian Championships 1966 1st
- Canadian Championships 1967 1st
- Canadian Championships 1968 1st
- Canadian Championships 1969 1st
- Canadian Championships 1970 1st
- Canadian Championships 1971 1st
- Canadian Championships 1972 1st
- Canadian Championships 1973 1st
- Pan American Championships 1968 1st
- Pan American Championships 1970 1st
- California World Cup 1970 1st
- World Championships 1971 Overall 1st
- World Championships 1971 Jump 1st
- World Championships 1971 Slalom 2nd
- World Championships 1973 Overall 1st
- World Championships 1973 Slalom 1st
- World Championships 1973 Jump 2nd
- World Cup 1971 1st
- California World Cup 1971 1st
- Moomba Masters 1972 1st
- Benson & Hedges Internationals 1973 1st
- Lida Cup 1974 1st
- U.S. Masters 1974 1st
- Quick Facts
- Third man in history to win two consecutive World Water Ski Overall Championships.
- Entered his first World Tournament in Sherbrooke in 1967 when he was only fifteen years old
- Four years later in 1971, he won the Overall event by just 60 points to become the first Canadian to win a gold medal in world competition since Charlie Blackwell in 1953.
- He repeated this victory in 1973 in Bogota, winning with a substantial 150-point margin and picking up a gold medal in slalom at the same time.
- He was inducted to the International Hall of Fame to become Canada’s first internationally recognized water skier
- His father, George Athans Sr., was also a sportsman and was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (Diving) in 1953
Canadian Records
Open Men
SLALOM
1968 National Championship @ 36′ off
1970 National Championship 4 ½ @ 14.25 m (34.5 buoys)
1971 World Championship 1 ½ @ 12.0 m (45 buoys)
1974 National Championship 3 @ 12.0 m (45 buoys)TRICKS
1967 Team Trials 4519 points
1970 Canadian Masters 5092 points
1974 National Championship 5030 pointsJUMP
1968 National Championship 145 ‘ (44.2 m)
1970 National Championship 157′ (47.9 m)
1971 Team Trials 159′ (48.5 m)
1972 National Championship 161′ (49.1 m)
1973 Quebec Cup 164′ (50.0 m)
1974 National Championship 167′ (50.9 m)Boys III
SLALOM
6 @ 24′ offTRICKS
1967 National Championship 4300 pointsJUMP
1968 Quebec Open 35.7 m (117′) 57 kphMen I
SLALOM
1968 National Championships @ 36′ off (36 mph)
1970 National Championships 4 ½ @ 14.25 m (34.5 buoys)
1971 World Championship 1 ½ @ 12.0 m (43.5 buoys)
1974 National Championship 3 @ 12.0 m (45 buoys)TRICKS
1970 Canadian Masters 5092 points
1974 National Championship 5030 pointsJUMP
1968 National Championship 145 ‘ (44.2 m)
1970 National Championship 157′ (47.9 m)
1971 Team Trials 159′ (48.5 m)
1972 National Championship 161′ (49.1 m)
1973 Quebec Cup 164′ (50.0 m)
1974 National Championship 167′ (50.9 m)