Olympic silver medallist and former Yorkton resident Jason Parker can now add one more credential to his already impressive resume, as he was one of the newest inductees into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (located in Regina) back on June 13, 2015.
“It’s just such a truly, amazing honour to be inducted,” Parker told Yorkton This Week via phone interview. “I was going through all the previous inductees and I’m a huge Roughrider fan, so to see names like George Reed and Ron Lancaster and people like that there… it’s just awesome to be included in that company.
“And another speed skater, Catriona Lemay Doan, was obviously previously inducted too, and she’s been a long-time friend of mine so it’s just been really, really cool to be inducted and join her in the Hall too.”
Parker’s nomination and eventual induction comes due to a very successful speed skating career that has seen the Yorkton native compete in 65 World Cups, 10 World Championships and one Winter Olympics.
In total Parker, now 40, has raced in over 130 international races winning several medals including an Olympic silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, as a member of the Canadian Men’s Team Pursuit squad.
That Olympic medal, Parker says, is the number one most impressive accomplishment in his entire athletic career; however being inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is also one of the most important parts as well. “This is definitely right up there pretty close. It’s definitely up there with my World Championship medals,” offered Parker, continuing, “Obviously the Olympics was the pinnacle and the one that I was waiting for for the longest time and the biggest one, but this isn’t too far off.
“It was a lot of work, 20 years of work and 12 years on the national team and it’s just so nice to be recognized by my province… and I’m very proud to be from Yorkton, Saskatchewan.”
Now retired from competitive speed skating, Parker is a motivational speaker and soon-to-be author of his book, tentatively titled ‘Your Olympian Within – Three Keys to Unlocking Your Best Life’. To pre-order the book, please visit the website jasonparkerspeaks.com.
