Bruce Richard Robertson | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Bruce Richard Robertson

Bruce Richard Robertson, swimmer (b at Vancouver 27 Apr 1953).

Bruce Richard Robertson, swimmer (b at Vancouver 27 Apr 1953). A specialist in the butterfly stroke, Robertson established himself as a world-class swimmer at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he won the silver medal in the 100 m butterfly and swam on the 3rd-place Canadian 4 x 100 m medley relay team. His greatest achievement was winning the 100 m butterfly race at the World Aquatic Games in Belgrade (1973) - the first world championship swimming performance by a Canadian in over 60 years. Robertson also swam on the 3rd place 4 x 100 m medley relay team there. At the 1974 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand he won 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. In 1973 he was named male athlete of the year, and was honoured with the Order of Canada in 1978.