Davey Hearn

Davey Hearn was a US legend in whitewater canoeing in the 1980s and 90s. Hearn won eight gold medals and 13 medals in all at the World Championships between 1979-95, winning C-1 slalom golds in 1985 and 1995. In 14 World Cup seasons, he won 23 medals and 7 golds, finishing second four times in the overall World Cup standings.

Domestically Hearn won 28 US titles – 19 in C-1 slalom, with seven wins in C-2 slalom, and one each in C-1 and C-2 wildwater. His sister, Cathy Hearn, also competed in canoe slalom at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

Hearn and his wife, Jennifer, later started Maximum Whitewater Performance (MWP), and coached paddlers and sold canoeing and whitewater supplies. They also owned and ran Sweet Composites, a company that sold boat building and outfitting materials.