Athlete, Coach and Mentor: Paul Craig (Hero Essay)

Paul Craig was born on September 9, 1953 in Toronto. He attended Don Mills Collegiate Institute, where he excelled at distance running. He began to run cross-country and track in grade 10, principally because his mother would not allow him to play football. He had several athletic role models growing up. They included Emil Zatopek, a Czech long-distance runner who won Olympic gold medals in 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon distances, Canadian marathoner Brian Maxwell, and his coach, David Lorne Steen, a Canadian shotputter. Both Craig and Maxwell trained under Steen’s guidance at the Victoria Park Track Club early in their athletic careers.

As a runner, he loved the energy, enthusiasm and commitment that his coaches brought to the table. In high school, Paul ran on teams with his twin brother John. Together, they won multiple OFSAA cross-country titles from 1969 to 1971. They both earned athletic scholarships to the University of Texas, where they ran throughout their academic careers. After college, both Paul and John ran on the international stage representing Canada in many meets abroad. Paul spent over seven years running in races all over Europe. Later, he also ran in a half marathon in Nanjing, China.

His experience competing all over the world allowed him to see all kinds of interesting things, meet remarkable people, and gain a new and insightful perspective on life. One of these remarkable people was Bronislaw Malinowski, a Polish steeplechaser. In the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Malinowski finished second in the 3000m steeplechase. The day after his silver medal, he ran in the same 1500m heat as Craig. They became acquainted, and chatted when they were at meets together.

By 1980, Malinowski was known to be the best steeplechaser in the world, and had become a Polish national hero for his skill and hard work on the track, but also for his exceptional character and personality. His fans had high hopes for him to win his event in the upcoming Olympics in Moscow. A few weeks before the big event, Paul, Bronislaw and John ran in a 1500m race in Warsaw. It was a competitive field, and they finished first, second, and third, respectively. After the race, Paul remarked that Malinowski looked very sad. When asked why, Malinowski replied firstly that he was sad that the brothers could not race in the upcoming Olympics, which Canada was boycotting. Secondly, he acknowledged the 40,000 fans in attendance that day, who had come to see him win. He felt that he had let them down by not winning.

The boycott was crushingly disappointing for the two Craig twins, as well as all of the other athletes locked out of the Games. They had trained hard for months and even years to be able to put forth their best effort in such a high-class event. It was devastating, especially to John, who narrowly missed qualifying for the 1976 Olympics that his brother ran in. But the runners took their unfortunate circumstance in stride, and still trained diligently, competing in non-Olympic races with other athletes in the same predicament.

Although not competing in the Olympics, Paul still followed other athletes’ performances, and was delighted to see his friend Bronislaw deservingly win a gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase. Their paths crossed again at a meet in Nice, where Craig congratulated the deserving victor in person. Three months after this encounter, 40,000 people filled the stands in the Warsaw stadium again, only not to watch a race. They had come to pay their respects, as Malinowski had died in a car crash. The 30-year-old was loved by these people, and it was tragic to see that this wonderful young man had died, and in such unfortunate circumstances. The Polish runner’s career affected the lives of many, including Craig.

After ending his career competing for the Canadian national team, Craig began his teaching career. He had earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Texas, and knew he loved working with children. He decided it would be a good decision to spread his knowledge of science and share his running expertise. He got a job teaching at Crescent School in Toronto, where he now coaches the track and cross-country teams. He has a passion for coaching, and uses his quiet and modest leadership style to manage a successful running program at the school. In his two decades at the school, he has fostered a love for running in many young athletes. He takes pride in his strategy of teaching his runners to be independent and work hard through their own initiative. He was recently honoured by being named a torchbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. On December 8, 2009, he ran the flame through a crowd of thousands near Crescent. Most of the school’s staff and student body was in attendance, as well as many members of the local community. This event showcased Craig’s positive impact on countless people in his community.

Mr. Craig makes it his goal to be there for his students and athletes if they need to talk to him. He constantly learns numerous lessons from his protégés, and strives to be a kinder and gentler leader for them. He is an industrious, humble and honest role model for anyone who knows him, making him a true everyday hero.