Les MacDonald

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGeorge Leslie "Les"•MacDonald
Used nameLes•MacDonald
Nick/petnamesShorty
Born5 October 1906 in Hamilton, Ontario (CAN)
Died25 September 1997 in Nethy Bridge, Scotland (GBR)
Measurements165 cm
AffiliationsLeander Boat Club, Hamilton (CAN)
NOC Canada
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Although he was only 5-5 (165 cm.), Les MacDonald started out as a hoopster for the Cotas Basketball team. He also started rowing and twice made the Canadian Olympic team in that sport. He also finished third in the 1930 British Empire Games eights competition. His business career was spent entirely with Ontario Hydro. During World War II, MacDonald served in Great Britain where he worked primarily defusing bombs dropped by the German Air Force. In the 1960s he became head coach for the Leander Boat Club in Hamilton. In his later life he was a competitive lawn bowler.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1932 Summer Olympics Rowing CAN Les MacDonald
Eights, Men (Olympic) Canada 3 Bronze
1936 Summer Olympics Rowing CAN Les MacDonald
Eights, Men (Olympic) Canada 2 h3 r2/3

Special Notes

Errata

Date of birth is uncertain. Commonwealth Games data also has a DOB of 5 October 1907, but multiple sources confirm the DOB listed above.