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NORTON H. CROW AWARD
for Outstanding Male Athlete
Daniel Igali - Wrestling
Nominated by Wrestling Canada Lutte
Daniel Igali's rise from refugee to sporting hero has become a Canadian legend, his glory sealed with his 2000 Olympic victory in 69kg freestyle wrestling. The story has captured the imaginations of Canadians. Rightly so, for his is a remarkable saga that began in his birthplace in Eniari, Nigeria. One of 21 children born to a man with four wives, he grew up sleeping four to a bed. Political unrest in Nigeria led to his decision to remain in Canada after the 1994 Commonwealth Games, where his 11th place finish gave no hint of what was to come by decade's end.
After his decisive victory at the 1999 world championships, Igali, a Canadian citizen since 1988, predicted he would win gold in Sydney. Described by coach Dave McKay as "a very committed athlete, very professional in his approach, and very disciplined in adhering to his training program," Igali's confidence was well founded. So impressive are his physical gifts, conditioning, and mental toughness, that his opponents call him the best athlete they have ever wrestled.
Going into the Olympic competition undefeated in 2000, his tough draw pitted him against the world's five top wrestlers. Three of his five matches were won in overtime, demanding that he utilize every weapon in his formidable arsenal. In the final, Russia's Arsen Gitinov battled back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the match at the half-way mark. From that point it was all Igali, who won the match 7-4. Moved to tears when "O Canada" was played, Igali, who was recently awarded the 2000 Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's outstanding athlete, credits his adopted country with helping him become a great champion.
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