Canadian Olympic gold medalist Denny Morrison of Chetwynd, British Columbia retired from competitive speed skating at the age 34 on Saturday. Morrison won the gold medal for Canada at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver in the men’s team pursuit. Morrison won alongside Mathieu Giroux of Montreal, Quebec and Lucas Makowsky of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Morrison won three other Olympic medals. He won the silver medal in the men’s team pursuit at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin alongside Arne Dankers of Calgary, Alberta, Steven Elm of Red Deer, Alberta, Jason Parker of Yorkton, Saskatchewan and Justin Warsylewicz of Regina, Saskatchewan, as well as two medals from the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi (silver in the men’s 1000 metres and bronze in the men’s 1500 metres).
Morrison also won 11 medals at the World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships. He won two gold medals, six silver medals and three bronze medals. Morrison’s gold medals came in the men’s 1500 metres at the 2008 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships in Nagano, Japan and at the 2012 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
Morrison officially was honoured for his outstanding speed skating career at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. It was leading up to the second day of a World Cup speed skating competition this weekend.
“While he has won multiple medals and awards, perhaps his most incredible accomplishment was writing one of the most remarkable comeback stories in sport,” said Speed Skating Canada Chief Executive Officer and two-time Olympic women’s speed skating silver medalist Susan Auch of Winnipeg, Manitoba. “Denny’s inspiring return to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang following various setbacks, a motorcycle accident and a stroke, is nothing short as incredible.” Morrison ended up finishing 13th in the men’s 1500 metres at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang.
