Wendy Cook-Hogg

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameWendy Elizabeth•Cook-Hogg
Used nameWendy•Cook-Hogg
Born15 September 1956 in Vancouver, British Columbia (CAN)
Measurements175 cm / 64 kg
AffiliationsPacific Dolphins, Vancouver (CAN)
NOC Canada
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Wendy Cook-Hogg was a record-breaking swimmer at the age of 10 and a Canadian national team member by 14. On the way to her first major international tournament, the 1972 Summer Olympics, she broke the Canadian record for the 100 metre backstroke, an event in which she finished fifth at the Games. This was her best placing at the tournament; she was also seventh in the 4x100 metre medley and freestyle relays and eliminated in the opening round and semifinals of the 200 metre backstroke and 100 metre freestyle respectively. Her next stop was the 1973 World Championships, where she won bronze in the 100 m backstroke and placed fifth in the 4x100 m medley relay. Arguably her greatest success came the following year at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, where she captured gold in the 100 and 200 m backstroke, as well as the 4x100 m medley relay, while setting a world record in the 100 m backstroke. She also finished fourth in the 400 metre individual medley. These feats earned her both the Velma Springstead and Bobbie Rosenfeld Trophies as Canada’s top female athlete of the year.

By 1976 Cook had married coach Doug Hogg and had been selected to represent Canada at that year’s Summer Olympics, where she took bronze in the 4x100 m medley relay (alongside Debbie Clarke, Robin Corsiglia, Anne Jardin, and Susan Sloan) and placed fourth and eighth in the 100 and 200 m backstroke events respectively. She continued competing, and resetting national records, for the next three years, but the Games were to be her last major international tournament. After graduating with a degree in physical education from the University of Alberta, she obtained a teaching certificate from the University of British Columbia and spent a year competing on their swim team. After taking up coaching for a short time, she settled into teaching and, as of 2013, serves as the principal of Pinewood Elementary School in Cranbrook, British Columbia. She was made a member of the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1972 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) CAN Wendy Cook
100 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) 15
4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Women (Olympic) Canada 7
100 metres Backstroke, Women (Olympic) 5
200 metres Backstroke, Women (Olympic) 11
4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women (Olympic) Canada 7
1976 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) CAN Wendy Hogg
100 metres Backstroke, Women (Olympic) 4
200 metres Backstroke, Women (Olympic) 8
4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women (Olympic) Canada 3 Bronze

Special Notes

Errata

Date of birth is uncertain. Commonwealth Games data also has a DOB of 5 September 1956, but multiple sources confirm the DOB listed above.