Where are they now? Marnie McBean

Not long ago everything about Marnie McBean’s life was rowing. This commitment led the Canadian to be one of the most decorated women in the sport.

Known to race in more than one event, McBean won two gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics (eight and pair) and a gold and bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (double sculls and quadruple sculls).  McBean went on to qualify in the single sculls for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and her lead up was going well. But this was to change.

“Going into the Sydney Olympics I was thinking that three Olympics would be it for me. I’d had such great success in all the crew boats, and now I was approaching the Games as a single sculler,” says McBean. “As it turned out, two discs in my back were degenerating and so was my speed. In Sydney I had to withdrawal from competition when the discs finally ruptured. It was so incredibly disappointing.”

The media decided that this was the end of competition for McBean. “I didn’t like that – being told I was done,” says McBean who did months of rehab after a back operation to get strong again. But in the end McBean realised she wasn’t ‘hungry’ enough to commit to more.

McBean stayed away from rowing for a long time taking part in other sports and adventures. “But,” McBean admits,” I often I got lured back into a bit of fall training and racing for Head of the Charles. The fall season is short, fun and rowing is often great.

Most recently, Marnie McBean rowed in 2019 when her 1992 Olympic crew got together and raced at the Head of the Charles. “This was incredibly special; we still wanted to move the boat with the ‘same’ intensity and rhythm.”

McBean, however, did stay involved off the water working with the Canadian Olympic Team as a specialist in Olympic Athlete Preparation and Mentoring. “Since 2006 I have worked with six Olympic teams – all sports; Summer and Winter – to help them with their Olympic preparation. Recently I was Chef de Mission for Team Canada in Tokyo.”

Family has become the centre of McBean’s life. “My wife (Deanah Shelly) and I have a six-year-old daughter and making sure that her social, educational and physical development is fun in a pandemic isn’t easy.”

Rowing conversation no longer dominates, “Only when I’m talking to rowers!  My work as a mentor and Chef to the last six Olympic teams means the topics that I tend to cover include all sports and/or the Olympic movement as a whole.” Still, McBean is recognised for her Olympic success.  “I think my name stands out as unique and I’ve remained in the media as a voice for sport and Canadian values.”

When McBean looks back on her rowing career she says depending on the day, her thoughts change. “There are many race highlights, big moments and breakthroughs,” she says. “But lately my memories have been of Kathleen (Marnie McBean’s rowing partner Kathleen Heddle who passed away from cancer in 2021). Even though our personalities presented so differently we shared a deep commitment to what we would focus on and how we would train and row. Our task was more valuable to us than our goal.

“Honestly what stands out is the people that I got to spend that time with; the hard work that was just part of our days – the reliance on each other, the laughter, the life style.”

Most recently at the Tokyo Olympics, Marnie McBean got to watch the Canadian women’s eight win gold. “It certainly took me back to what it felt like to be part of a group – a big crew working through so much to be there (physically and mentally) for each other on and off the water.

“It was so great to be at the Olympics,” McBean adds. “It was amazing how many old friends I saw there from so many nations. So many are coaches, sport administrators, media, FISA officials and IOC officials. It was really cool to see so many still giving back to our global rowing community.

“I hope I never lose touch.”