The Doctor of Triathlons inducted into North Bay Sports HOF

Swimmer and triathlete Dr. Len Gushe will be one of eleven individuals inducted into the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

“In 2018 Len Gushe set a world record in the Masters 200 metre backstroke and holds 25 Canadian Masters swimming records as well as being a former provincial male pro triathlete of the year,” stated Bill Jacko, North Bay Sports Hall of Fame Chair. 

The induction will take place Saturday, April 27 at the Davedi Club.

The Mattawa resident was elected to the Masters Swimming Canada Hall of Excellence in 2018, capping a spectacular season which saw him set a Masters Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) world record of 2:15:37 in the 200m backstroke (55-59 age class) in Los Angeles and set 33 Canadian Masters age class swimming marks. At the end of that year he was ranked first in the world in over ten Masters swimming categories at various distances. He holds more
Masters swimming records than any other Canadian male and as of 2020, his 25 Canadian records are in four different age categories - 40-44, 45-49, 50-54 and 55-59.

The Winnipeg-born Gushe first broke into local headlines in the 1990’s by winning the North BayRotary triathlon 11 times in 16 attempts.

In 2000 he won the 35+ age group in the Hawaii Ironman World Championship. 

Then in 2002 Gushe entered the Canadian long course triathlon where he finished first overall in the Pro division.

The year 2007 saw Gushe named the Ontario male pro triathlete of the year as he won the Subaru triathlon series by over 150 points, winning seven events and setting a course record in the provincial finals. A year later, he set three FINA Masters age class swimming world records - a pair in the 400 individual medley and another in the 200m back stroke.

He took three triathlon events in 2017 including Guelph in which he has been a winner 17 times.

Overall, Gushe has been a winner in 70 triathlon competitions over some two decades.

A physician at Mattawa General Hospital for the last 30 years, Gushe ran cross country, captained a University of Toronto CIAU champion swim team and played some football in his youth. As a Masters athlete he has developed a five-year training cycle and with 2019 being a light year was able to concentrate on other sports and consequently won the Mattawa Golf Club tournament.

Gushe will be the first individual inducted into the NBSHF for feats in swimming and triathlon. Gushe will be inducted at the 43 rd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner to be held at the Davedi Club on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Tickets are available by calling Larry Tougas at 705-303-8104, Trista Grant at 705-472-0009, the Davedi Club at 705-474-4190, or by contacting any Board Member.