Mike Forgrave Highlights
1972 - Mike’s successful career in Track and Field began in 1972 during his first year at Barrie North Collegiate. He credits his first coach and mentor Jim Whitfield for getting him interested, first in Cross Country Running, followed by the Hurdles.
During Grade 9, Mike made it to GBSSA level in Cross Country Running. The following year in Grade 10, he won the Midget 400m OFSSA title and began his journey in the sprint hurdles. In Grade 12 Mike began competing in the 400m Hurdles. During his five years at Barrie North Collegiate, Mike was a six-time OFSSA (Ontario federation of Secondary Schools Athletics) Track Champion.
He was Barrie North’s MVP two years consecutive.
Upon graduating Barrie North, Mike went onto the University of Waterloo. During his time at Barrie North, he held 2 Canadian Interscholastic records, 2 Canadian Junior Championship titles, broke the Canadian Junior Indoor 400m record (2X) and held the Canadian Juvenile 400m Hurdle record. In 1980, he was named MVP of the University’s Men’s Track and Field Team.
To this day, Mike still holds the Indoor 600m record at the University.
1976 - Mike became a Canadian Olympic Hopeful Team member, while being the Canadian Senior 400m Hurdle Champion. He went on to repeat this achievement in 1977 and became a member of the Pacific Conference Games Team in Australia and the Ontario Canada Games Team, winning three gold and one silver. He was a semi-finalist as a member of the 1978 Commonwealth Games Team in Edmonton.
1980 - Mike achieved his ultimate goal, and was named to the Canadian Olympic Team. Unfortunately, that was the year Canada boycotted the Russian Olympic Games and he was not able to compete. Mike however, did participate as Head of the Foot & Ankle Clinic for the Athletes Village during the 2005 Athens Olympic Games. He commented that it was a very rewarding experience, especially when the athletes would win a medal and walk up to him to say thank you, you helped me achieve this.
Mike coached at the University level for a short time, while building up his business as a Pedorthist. He has been a consultant for Athletics Canada, Ski Canada, Badminton Canada, Bobsleigh Canada, San Diego Chargers and the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
After the many rewarding years in Track and Field, Mike began playing volleyball at the Provincial level. In 1988, he was named the Provincial All-Star.
Mike also played Slo-Pitch and during that time won three Provincial Championships.
2014 - Inducted into the Springwater Sports Heritage Hall of Fame
2015 - It was with great sadness that Springwater Sports Heritage received the news of Mike's passing on April 14, 2015. He passed away peacefully at home, following an illness at the age of 57. His achievements and contributions as an athlete and builder are significant and very supportive to the development of sport locally, nationally and internationally. We are extremely honoured and proud that Mike is a respected and deserving member of the Springwater Sports Heritage Hall of Fame.
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