Olympic cyclist Curt Harnett named Canada's chef de mission for Pan Am Games
TORONTO - Three-time Olympic medallist Curt Harnett will be Canada's chef de mission when his hometown of Toronto hosts the 2015 Pan American Games.
Harnett is the only Canadian cyclist to win three Olympic medals, capturing silver in the 1,000 metres in 1984 in Los Angeles, and then bronze in the sprint at both the 1992 and 1996 Games in Barcelona and Atlanta.
The member of both Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and Olympic Hall of Fame is also a veteran of two Pan American Games, winning gold in the 1,000-metre time trial and bronze in sprint in 1987.
Harnett was the assistant chef at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico — and was also arguably the Canadian team's biggest cheerleader, leading cheers and handing out flags at numerous sports events.
The announcement was made Thursday at the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) general assembly, which has brought some 350 delegates from Olympic committees and international sport federations to Toronto.
Canada's chef de mission in Guadalajara was former fencer Jacques Cardyn.
