Clements epitome of Olympic spirit
They founded the Richmond Kajaks Track and Field Club, continue to give back to sport by serving on various athletic committees, and are themselves former Olympians.
And last week they had the privilege and honour of carrying the Olympic flame in Trail (with most of the ’56 track and field team in tow) as it winds its way to their hometown of Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Games.
Fitting, because Doug and Diane Clement exemplify the Olympic spirit to build a peaceful and better world through sport. Further, the couple demonstrates on a daily basis the qualities of understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play which the Olympic movement promotes.
When French historian Pierre de Coubertin, considered the father of the modern Olympics, revived the Games in Athens in 1896 he suggested that “the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” Though competitive, the Clements have always been able to appreciate and promote participation with an eye toward helping each athlete realize their individual potential.
Their legacy with the Kajaks is a proud one.
In 1960, Richmond’s parks and recreation department asked the young couple (Doug, a retired doctor, had just set up a family practice in Richmond) if they would be interested in starting a track and field club at Minoru Park.
The city offered to build a track and change rooms for their coaching expertise.
Doug twice competed for Canada—as a member of the four-by-400-metre relay team at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki and again in the mile relay at the 1956 Games in Melbourne. Diane (nee Matheson) competed in the 100 and 200 metres and four-by-100-metre relays in the Melbourne Games.
The Clements accepted Richmond’s invitation and the rest, as they say, is history. Under their leadership the Kajaks became the premiere track and field club in Canada. Not only did they recruit a handful of elementary and high school children and turn them on to track and field, but inspired many of them to aspire to also wear the maple leaf if not become Olympians themselves.
By 1968 Anne Covell became the Kajaks’ first Olympian. She didn’t win a medal in Mexico City, but she did set a new Canadian record in the 400 metres.
Twenty-one other Kajaks have since made it to the Olympics. That’s quite a tribute to the Clements and both well-earned and well-deserved.
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