Gary MacDonald (swimmer)

Gary Wayne MacDonald (born December 15, 1953) is a Canadian freestyle swimmer who competed for Simon Fraser University and won a silver medal representing Canada in the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the Men's 4×100 m medley relay. MacDonald was the Canadian record holder in the 100 and 50-metre freestyle and the 200 metre individual medley, demonstrating his skills as a multi-stroke technician. After completing his education and coaching swimming at Toronto's York University from 1979-1980, he coached the Canadian Dolphin SC in Vancouver, British Columbia from 1980-1983, then moved East to Nova Scottia and coached swimming for the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club from 1983-2004. Remaining in greater Halifax, he then coached at Dalhousie University from 2004-2015 and then moved sixty miles North to Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scottia, where he began as Head Coach in 2015, continuing through around 2021.

MacDonald was born December 15, 1953 in Mission, British Columbia, Canada, and began his career swimming for the Mission Marlins. As the pool was outdoors, MacDonald trained primarily in the summers, and did not engage in the long and strenuous year-round sessions typical of an elite swimmer. Still recognized for his achievements by his High School Senior year in 1970, he held the 15-16 age group record in both the 220 yard individual medley of 2:39.2, and the 110-yard backstroke with a recorded time of 1:10.9. He began more extensive training as a future champion during his college swimming career.