Craig MacKay

Craig Mackay took up speed skating at the age of 15 and joined the Saskatoon Speed Skating Club in 1943. One year later he was a Saskatchewan provincial titleholder, and he earned his first Canadian national championship victory in 1947, in the 3 mile event. His next stop was the 1948 St. Moritz Olympics, where he was 13th in the 10,000 metres, 14th in the 5,000 metres, and also competed in the 500 metres. Four years later he contested those events again in Oslo, adding the 1,500 metres to his roster as well. He also competed at the 1949 World Championships and was an alternate for the Canadian teams at the 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics. He did not retire fully until the late 1960s, with his last major appearance coming at the 1967 Canada Winter Games. He was later involved in sports administration and was inducted into the Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Sports Halls of Fame in 1973 and 1986 respectively, as well as the Speed Skating Canada Hall in 1976. He was still competing in masters-level competitions into his 70s and set a provincial record in that age group at 500 metres.

Personal Bests: 500 – 44.9 (1950); 1500 – 2:25.0 (1952); 5000 – 8:42.5 (1952); 10000 – 18:27.4 (1952).