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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.55.129 B |
Object Name |
Video Recording |
Title |
Lorne Loomer Interview |
Scope & Content |
Lorne Loomer interview, 27 February 2009. Digitized MP4 from Sony 40 Advanced ME DVCAM. Three videos with a total viewing time of 01:47:47. 1 of 3; 00:01Talking about the UBC rowing team, part of the possibility of being the best in the world; his dad had encouraged him to get into sport, family travelled in the states when he was a child and talks about seeing baseball games with his hero Ted Williams playing; Jean Beliveau was another hero, an man understated, it's just his presence, he's there 06:02How did you get into rowing: at 18 went to UBC, from Nelson, he had never seen a rowing shell, his sister was engaged to a rower who had been on the Gold medal 1954 Commonwealth Games & Henley team, they became his heroes, they were all from small towns like him; he was invited to join the rowing club; his first introduction to rowing was the small and the wet, just meeting the crew, what they had done on the water was extraordinary, what they were dong beyond that, they were professionals, inspired by them and wanted to be with them, rowing at UBC was encouraged by the administration; talks about doing abdominal exercises in the gym and how hard they were; the potential rowers were invited to join the team, scouted for height, not an organized recruitment; talks about the crew of 8 that would be going to Melbourne; he, Don Arnold, Archie and Walter along with others were trying to be the spares for the 8, Frank Reed the coach had his way/philosophy: with determination, faith and hard work anything can be done, in sport or life; not so much winning the race but finding out who you were inside; knowing what you did was your best ; made the junior varsity boat in the spring, competed for the first time, against University of Wisconsin and won; talks about Walter's mother standing alone on the dock and cheering for them; Frank set up the programme; talks about the crew living together, to be on the water at 5am each day and the routine of rowing and time trials; the 4 were give a 30 second head start, talks about getting caught by the 8 and then being caught in the wake of the coach boat and their shell sinking; they didn't have a totally pristine relationship; had months of chaotic training and Frank didn't want anything to do with them; once they won at St. Catharines [Olympic trials] they eventually got their head start down to 20 seconds and a few times the 8 didn't catch them; total giving over of themselves 32:20Why didn't the Olympic Committee want them to row: the trials had been in July; the committee had enough in the budget for the 8; the fours only had the ambition to be spares for the 8's; the mark for the 8's was to break 6 minutes, at the trials they (4's) rowed a 6.1 in the morning and a 6.4 in the afternoon, they then had the possibility of two competitive boats but only had the money for one, 5 sponsors from Vancouver who had supported Frank Reed paid for them to go, it cost $10,000.00 then; Archives had the bow seat, had a fighting spirit; Don in the stern was massively strong; Walter had been a hammer throw champion and was the tallest, biggest, strong; he and Archie were identical in height and weight; they had different personalities, Archie who was cerebral, Don making it happen and Walter so strong 2 of3; 00:00Talking about club rowing, not a national team, winner take all 00:49They [the Olympic Committee] doubted them at the trials, Frank told them to race the clock, not the boats; called for the Big 10, so conditioned that no matter how you felt you dug down into yourself and found it to give it; comment from Frank "they don't look like much but they sure move the boat"; they thought they were abysmal and was surprised when Frank brought them to Ontario; Don had only been in the boat for 3 weeks, started off as a stroke man and had rowed in the 8, being put into the 4 was hard on his ego, named them the 'Rock and Roll Four' for Elvis Presley, Don had to switch sides and get comfortable rowing on the other side and took command of the boat 06:20Brockville was not the final race, talks about the final afternoon race and rowing the 6.4 and being exhausted; they had from the end of August to November for the Olympics 08:36What was the mood then: to be part of that group, proud to be part, accepted in every way by the 8 boat, like having a brother 11:01Tells story about Archie being told by Frank that he was rowing bow side and saying he had never rowed bow in his life and the reply being "Your life had just begun"; had confidence, we deserved it, to go to Australia; the finesse of rowing had just begun; the City of Vancouver got them jobs and they rowed in the mornings and evenings; he had a job in a drug store so he could qualify for the pharmacy programme; talks about trip out to Australia; the rowing venue was at Balarat outside of Melbourne, it was a village of rowers and kayakers, pretty basic accommodations, tight control from Frank at all times, talks about training, on their own for the 4, did not see much of Frank 25:41On the heats: realized they were being clocked; they had the audacity to challenge another 8, sometimes beat them; the first heat they won by 7 lengths, the new heat by 10; finals - had a bad start, chased and caught the other boats at the 1,000 metre mark and opened up and won by 5 lengths; talks about the medal ceremony, they could not find the music for Oh Canada so they played God Save the Queen; 40,000 people watching the race, long way from Mrs. d'Hondt being the only person standing on the deck 30:26When did it sink in what you had done: people they worked with for decades don't know they were at the Olympics; talks about what the other team members are doing, how it is not even mentioned in their resumes, Lorne had his stroke in 1990; "if you do well others will know it can be done and that is how you made your mark. And how lucky I was to be part of this small group of extraordinary people."; talks about rowing club he started at university and how he tried to initiate what he had learned from Frank: for his team to look like champions and behaved like champions 3 of 3; 00:01On the end of the race there is 3 cheers for the other teams; there are no stars in the race; was a major influx of positive energy in Canada, was a pure time 03:12Talks about his stroke, rowing at the masters level, what the coach had said was true for all things; talks about not going to the closing ceremonies at the Olympics he attended, "we were a small group. We were there to win, to be there, to experience and to try.", believes Canada has been that way for a long time; medals aren't the whole thing, wanted to win but winning not first thing in their hearts, learning a lesson through the most exciting atmosphere 09:48Relationship and life lessons: talks about his family, show by example to his daughter that they can do anything they set their mind to, hard work, determination and faith 15:20On his relationship with Frank Reed: "we would do it again", thanks him for having the maturity, courage and guts to push others, real skill is to be the coach and driving other people to excel and find themselves; not the only way of leadership, talks about his art teacher being the opposite of Frank, all about that there is no right or wrong, in awe of each of their capabilities; the world is lucky to have people like this 20:42On his team mates: Walter was great physically and philosophically, to know him is to love him; Archie evolved and matured, he spoils me with confidence, encourages him in his art and despite the stroke to keep going; Don was the strong guy, encouraged him to get up and get going despite the stroke; had been through a lot together, feel very lucky, know they feel that way about each other too 25:41Talks about the plaque from the CSHoF Induction, "it validates the greatness of sport' |
Date |
2009/02/27 |
People |
Loomer, Lorne McKinnon, Archie d'Hondt, Walter Arnold, Doug Beliveau, Jean Heddle, Kathleen |
Search Terms |
Lorne Loomer interview rowing aquatics 1956 Olympic Games Melbourne 1958 Commonwealth Games Cardiff 1960 Olympic Games Rome |