The 1964 Olympics produced a most unlikely success story that resulted in publicity and fame for UBC and two talented UBC rowers. George Hungerford and Roger Jackson were brought together at the last minute to represent Canada in the Olympic pairs event, Hungeford still recovering from mononucleosis. In only their second official race together they surprisingly won the gold - Canada's only gold of the Games. The victory and national attention launched successful careers for both with their accomplishment remaining a Canadian 20th Century sport highlight.
Although the Frank Read era of UBC rowing had technically passed by 1964 its legacy had endured insofar as Canada’s only gold medal of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics was the product of UBC rowers, in the coxless pair.
Not only were UBC students George Hungerford and Roger Jackson not expected to win but it was a surprise they were in this event at all. Hungerford had contracted mononucleosis after having attained a position on the eight-oared crew representing Canada but due to his illness had to be replaced by teammate Wayne Pretty. However with just over two weeks to go before the Olympics, Canada in a last minute effort to be represented in the pairs event took a recuperating Hungerford and matched him with the remaining Eights spare, Roger Jackson.
Normally crews take years to develop the balance and rhythm necessary to be highly successful at the international level. In this case these two had only two weeks to prepare and in addition Hungerford was still in the process of developing his strength.
In the first official race rowing together, the UBC pair surprised by winning the Olympic semi-final heat defeating Finland over the 2000-meter course.
In only their second race, the gold medal final against the favored Netherlands, UBC had built in excess of a boat length lead by the 1500-meter mark. However, the Dutch pair started to gain and with the finish line drawing closer and the Dutch steadily approaching, Jackson with 100 meters to go called for a sprint. Reaching into reserves they thought did not exist, the UBC pair strained for the finish line edging out the expected winners by less than a second.
So unexpected was the victory that no Canadian journalists were on hand to cover the story. It wasn’t until the next morning that the media caught up with the now “perfect pair” in the Athlete’s Village. And the irony was that UBC’s powerful and well-publicized eights representing Canada had finished ninth while the new pair – the spares – won gold.
The Olympic gold medal not only earned Hungerford and Jackson the prestigious Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s outstanding athletes of the year (professional or amateur) but gained for them and UBC tremendous accolades and publicity including an appearance on the CBC national television show “Front Page Challenge”.
Jackson, who attained his Masters in Physical Education at UBC in ’67, went on to compete in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics while Hungerford, a UBC Law graduate in ’68, retired from rowing competition in 1965 following the pair’s (Hungerford and Jackson) race at Henley.
Since their rowing days, both Hungerford and Jackson have made significant contributions to their respective communities characterized by induction into Halls of Fame, appointments to the Order of Canada, major roles in Canada's Olympic movement and in 2005 the opening in Calgary of the Roger Jackson Centre for Health and Wellness Research.
Hungerford and Jackson – the golden pair in Tokyo – remain a UBC and Canadian 20th century sport highlight and in its wake exists a distrinct legacy.
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
