Lesley Thompson's role is much more than yelling "stroke, stroke, stroke."

  Thompson is one of Canada's least known but successful athletes. She was nominated to her sixth consecutive Olympic team this year and is one of the frontrunners to carry the Canadian flag at the opening ceremonies with Ian Millar and Caroline Brunet. The member of the Canadian Olympic Sports Hall of Fame is the coxswain of the women's eights teams. Her highlights include the Olympic gold medal in 1992 and silver at the 1984 and 1996 Games. She also has six world championship medals including the 1991 world crown.

  Her role includes setting-up and implementing race strategies as well as steering. She also attended the National Coaching Institute in Victoria last year and is an assistant to head coach Al Morrow.

  Marnie McBean says, "She sits in a boat with eight rowers who have prepared to push it to the wall, and it's her job to get more out of us than we thought was there." It is a job at which Thompson excels. The key to a coxswain's success is the ability to garner absolute trust from the rowers, and Thompson has done just that. Years of experience have taught her to make the right decisions and, when necessary, to exercise her authority to deviate from the race plan. She has great skill at anticipating every eventuality and swiftly transmitting vital information to the crew. She keeps in peak condition, because the fitter she is, the clearer she can think in a pressure situation. When at home in London, Ont., she devotes much of her time to volunteer teaching and coaching at the high school, university and provincial levels, guiding others toward achieving their full potential. Last spring, her community recognized her achievements with the YMCA-YWCA's Women of Distinction award.

2000 Games
Sept. 24: Women's eight: Heather McDermid, Calgary; Heather Davis, Vancouver; Dorota Urbaniak, Toronto; Theresa Luke, 100 Mile House, B.C.; Emma Robinson, Winnipeg; Alison Korn, Nepean, Ont.; Laryssa Biesenthal, Walkerton, Ont.; Buffy Alexander, St. Catharines, and Lesley Thompson, London, Ont., won bronze in women's eights finals.
Sept. 20: Women's eight: Heather McDermid, Calgary; Heather Davis, Vancouver; Dorota Urbaniak, Toronto; Theresa Luke, 100 Mile House, B.C.; Emma Robinson, Winnipeg; Alison Korn, Nepean, Ont.; Laryssa Biesenthal, Walkerton, Ont.; Buffy Alexander, St. Catharines, and Lesley Thompson, London, Ont., placed second in repechage heat, advanced to final.
Sept. 18: Women's eight: Heather McDermid, Calgary; Heather Davis, Vancouver; Dorota Urbaniak, Toronto; Theresa Luke, 100 Mile House, B.C.; Emma Robinson, Winnipeg; Alison Korn, Nepean, Ont.; Laryssa Biesenthal, Walkerton, Ont.; Buffy Alexander, St. Catharines, and Lesley Thompson, London, Ont., were second in heat, dropped to repechage.

Photos
Canadian rowers show off their bronze medals
Canadian rowers wave from the podium
Dorota Urbaniak is embraced by Heather McDermid
Dorota Urbaniak, Theresa Luke and Emma Robinson
Dorota Urbaniak is kissed by fiancee Rob Makurat
Canadian coxswain Lesley Thompson

2000 Games Rowing Coverage