After finishing high school as a star multi-sport athlete in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Bob headed west to Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. ‘Big Bob’ (6’4″ & 275 lbs.) quickly became a standout in both the Wrestling and Football teams and won the Simon Fraser Scholar-Athlete Award.
Still in university and with a clear vision for accomplishment, Bob began to focus on his next two goals – to win an Olympic medal in wrestling and to make the Canadian Football League (CFL) and win a coveted Grey Cup.
There were setbacks. Bob ruptured a disc in his back and had surgery just 21 days before the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Testing concluded it was impossible for Bob to regain his form in time to compete. Unfazed and committed to competing and achieving his goal, Bob pressed on. At just 21 years old, he found an inner resolve and wrestled his way against the odds to a Silver Medal.