THUNDER BAY – Two Thunder Bay athletes were honoured today in Thunder Bay. As first reported in September, Ron Bingham and Mario Palermo
A Canada Games flag has been raised by Mayor Keith Hobbs outside of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of the accomplishments of two Thunder Bay athletes, Ron Bingham and Marco Palermo, who won gold medals in wrestling at the 2013 Canada Summer Games held in Sherbrooke, Que., in August.
“These two great athletes are carrying on a rich and proud history of success in the sport of wrestling that has been enjoyed by athletes from the City of Thunder Bay over the years,” Hobbs said. “It was also fitting that they won gold at the Canada Games, given that our City proudly hosted this national competition back in 1981, with our Canada Games Complex remaining as a legacy from that very successful event.”
Both Palermo and Bingham brought home individual gold medals in their respective weight classes and won gold medals for Team Ontario. In addition to Bingham and Palermo, Thunder Bay was also represented at the Canada Games by, diver Molly Carlson, wrestling official Harry Curtis and John Sims, Team Ontario’s Core Team Leader for Communications.
Former Thunder Bay residents Marlene Stirrett-Matson and Bryan Rosenfeld were also at the event; Stirrett-Matson acted as Mission staff person for wrestling and fencing, and Rosenfeld was head coach of the women’s soccer team.
“With the 2016 Olympics not too far away, and given the talent and dedication of these two young athletes, something tells me we may be back here in a couple of years to raise another flag in their honour,” Hobbs said. “On behalf of the citizens of Thunder Bay, congratulations on your success and thank you for being such great ambassadors for our community.”
Diane Imrie, Executive Director of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame was pleased that the Hall of Fame is able to work in partnership with the City of Thunder Bay on this community initiative as a way to celebrate local sports history as it is being made.
The Canada Games flag will fly outside of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, located at 219 South May St., until the end of November.
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