Mark Leduc
| Mark Leduc | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Rated at | Super lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Reach | 139 lb (63 kg) |
| Nationality |  Canadian |
| Born | May 4, 1962 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | July 22, 2009 (aged 47) Toronto, Ontario |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 5 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Wins by KO | 2 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Draws | 0 |
Medal record
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Leduc (May 4, 1962 – July 22, 2009) was a Canadian boxer. He competed for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Career[change | change source]
Leduc began his training in the East End of Toronto. His parents divorced when he was 15 and he had to live on the streets. Leduc was arrested for robbing a jewellery store at gunpoint and he was sentenced to spend six years at the Collins Bay Penitentiary in Kingston, Ontario. He was released from prison after serving 3 years.[1]
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, Leduc competed for Canada and was able to win a silver medal. He defeated Leonard Doroftei 13-6 and was defeated by Héctor Vinent 1-11.[2] In 1992, he turned pro and he had limited success. He recorded a record of 4-1-0 after losing to Michel Galarneau and retired.
In 1993, Leduc spoke on CBC Radio's documentary "The Last Closet" about being a gay athlete. He was not ready to come out yet and he spoke anonymously and through a voice filter.[2] He officially came out as gay on the TV documentary For the Love of the Game in 1994.[3]
On July 22, 2009, Leduc collapsed in the sauna of a local hotel in Toronto and died. Doctors said that he may have died due to heat stroke.[4]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Mark Leduc had the guts to come out swinging". The Globe and Mail. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Leduc remembered as Olympic champ, gay role model". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
- ↑ "Mark Leduc, 47: Gay athlete, Olympic medallist". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
- ↑ "Canadian Olympic Boxer Mark Leduc Dies". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2015-05-10.[permanent dead link]