Gerald Marchand

In 1939 Gerald Marchand and his French friend Pierre Sciandra were involved in an horrific accident on the River Thames near Twickenham when Marchand’s canoe “The Curlew” was hit, and cut in two, by a River Steamer. Fortunately, the two boys escaped unharmed.

The accident did not put Marchand off canoeing, and he was so dedicated to the sport that in 1950, the former Naval officer gave up his job as a journalist to become a lumberjack in Richmond Park, so as to build up his strength. That dedication reaped its rewards, and that year he won the C-1 500 metres race at the Richmond Regatta and then went on to retain his C-1 1,000 national title. He also won the C-1 10,000 metres national title in 1950.

Prior to the 1952 Olympics, Marchand spent three weeks in Sweden training with the 1948 Olympic gold medallist Hans Berglund. Despite hopes of Marchand medalling in both the C-1 1,000 and 10,000 in Helsinki, he disappointed in both events, finishing last in his opening heat in the 1,000 metre-race and was ninth out of ten starters in the longer event. He went on to compete in the 1954 World Championships at Mâcon, France, but finished 12th in the C-1 10,000.

Marchand who was originally a member of the Royal Canoe Club, but moved to Richmond CC before the Helsinki Games. He also occasionally raced C-2 with Peter Angel. Marchand later emigrated to Canada.