Gerald Covey

Gerry Covey was born in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, the son of a machine operator. He grew up in Gananoque, Ontario and played many sports in his youth, including football and ice hockey. He would, however, find the most success in canoeing, where he was a member of the local Gananoque Canoe Club. He was selected in 1948 alongside clubmate Henry Harper to represent his country in the Olympic Games in London, England, where the pair competed in 1,000 and 10,000 metres doubles events, finishing 7th and 14th respectively. He was also a member of the Gananoque K4 team alongside Harper and non-Olympians Bing Jackson and Bennie Tackaberry which competed in the half mile event at the 1950 Canadian National Canoe-Kayak Championships, winning a gold medal.

Covey retired from competition in the early 1950s when he moved with his family to Peterborough, Ontario, where he worked in finance. Though retired from competition, he kept in shape and continued paddling recreationally on the nearby Trent Canal with his family, and also was an avid runner. He died in Peterborough in 1986 after a cardiac event while running on the track at Trent University in Peterborough.