1999 Pan American Games - Winnipeg

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The Pan American Games were hosted for a second time by Winnipeg in 1999, offering Canadians a unique "opportunity to rekindle a sense of excitement, optimism and shared vision" inspired by athletic achievement as they approached the 21st century. The Games in 1999 brought together 5000 athletes from 42 nations in the western hemisphere. Many of the competitions were Olympic pre-qualifying events and raised the caliber of the competition. The increased pressure to succeed at any cost left numerous athletes stripped of their medals after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Despite the occasional storms of controversy, which distracted from the field of play at the 1999 Pan American Games, many Canadian athletes competed with refreshing heart and honesty. As host nation, Canada placed third overall with an astounding total of 196 medals, many collected by athletes who performed with humility and integrity. Donovan Bailey's tremendous international success and charismatic personality had led organizers in Winnipeg to pay the sprinter handsomely to act as the goodwill ambassador for the 1999 Pan American Games. However by demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship as well as competitive fire, Winnipeg-born cyclist Tanya Dubnicoff became the unofficial face of the games. After acting as Canada's flag bearer in the opening ceremonies Dubnicoff won gold medals in the Women's 500 metre time trial and Women's Match Sprint, and qualified to compete in the 2000 Olympic Summer Games.

Other inspiring Canadians competing in the 1999 Pan American Games included Ian Millar, who at the age of 52 had represented Canada in international equestrian events for 28 years. Equestrian sports require patient collaboration and constant adaptability to balance the strengths and abilities of two athletes, horse and rider. Millar often credited his success to valuable lessons learned from the peerless horses he had partnered with, including the famous Big Ben, who had retired from competition in 1994.

Millar believed Big Ben had taught him that exceptional athletes possess a purity of intent in their hearts and minds, reflecting a simple but powerful desire to do their absolute best each and every time they compete. He translated this lesson into his own remarkable achievements at the 1999 Pan American Games. Shortly after Millar helped Canada win bronze in team show jumping, he was asked to act as Canada's flag bearer at the closing ceremonies. Although the bronze medal had qualified Canada's equestrian team to compete at the Olympic Games in Sydney the following year, Millar was not content to rest on the laurels of what he had already accomplished. Knowing he was about to carry Canada's flag on home soil in front of an international audience, he put in a remarkable performance with his horse Ivar in the final day of the individual show jumping competition, moving up from tenth place to win the gold medal. Millar's passionate pursuit of excellence and relentless determination at the 1999 Pan American Games redefined how veteran athletes could inspire Canadians as they moved towards the new millennium.

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