MEDAL, SPORT

Description: MEDAL, GOLD-COLOURED, BASED ON MALTESE CROSS, RELIEF IMAGE OF PERSON SWIMMING ON FRONT, ETCHED TEXT ON BACK READS, "PRESENTED BY R. BARROWMAN, SWIMMING, WON BY IVAN THOMPSON."

History: MEDALS AWARDED TO LETHBRIDGE YOUTH SWIMMER IVAN THOMPSON. THOMPSON WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA. THE MEDALS ARE SUSPECTED TO BE HAVING BEEN WON AT TWO HENDERSON LAKE COMPETITIONS IN 1926. ACCORDING TO THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, THOMPSON WON GOLD AT A SWIM MEET AT HENDERSON LAKE ON 22 JULY IN THE CATEGORY OF HIGH POINT WINNER (BOYS AGED 16 AND BELOW) AND ON 26 AUGUST, HE WON SILVER IN THE PROVINCIAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP’S BOYS 100 YARD EVENT, WHICH WAS HOSTED BY LETHBRIDGE AND HELD AT LETHBRIDGE HENDERSON LAKE POOL. IN ANOTHER RACE, THOMPSON PLACED FIRST IN THE BOY'S 50 YARD RACE IN 34 4-5 SEC, A TIME FASTER THAN THE WINNER OF THE MEN'S 50 YARD RACE. AFTER WINNING THE MEDALS, THOMPSON BECAME A LIFEGUARD. IN THE SPRING ON 1930, HE WAS EMPLOYED AS A STUDENT WITH SOUTHERN ALBERTA AIRLINES LTD. TRAGICALLY, THOMPSON WAS KILLED IN AN AIRCRAFT CRASH ON 1 FEBRUARY 1931 WHILE PILOTING A “MOTH” PLANE OVER NORTH LETHBRIDGE. THE CRASH KILLED BOTH THOMPSON AND PASSENGER DONALD MCKENZIE. THE CRASH AND DEATH(S) REPRESENT THE FIRST AIRPLANE DISASTER IN THE CITY’S HISTORY. THE MEDALS WERE DONATED TO THE GALT BY THOMPSON’S SURVIVING SISTER ELIZABETH GARTON WHO, AT THE TIME OF THE DONATION, WAS 91 YEARS OLD.