Steve Hancock, British Olympian and avid cyclist, passes away after Ontario collision
When not riding a canoe or a kayak, something for which he was celebrated at the 1980 Olympic Games, Steve Hancock of Great Britain was a cyclist
We are deeply sadden by the news of Steve Hancock’s passing. Our sincere condolences to Steve’s family & friends. https://t.co/L5k8rMAekZ
— Ontario Cycling (@ontariocycling) June 27, 2016
Steve Hancock represented Great Britain 1980 Olympic Games in kayaking. More recently, the 58 year old based in Toronto could be found in the saddle.
But as his wife, Karen Simpson, told the Toronto Star late last week, it was in the saddle that he met his demise.
On June 7, Hancock, a member of two local cycling groups, was part of a group ride in Mississauga, Ont., when he was struck by a vehicle at around 7:45 p.m. near where Britannia Road East meets Convair Drive. Although Peel Regional Police have yet to determine if charges will be laid in the case, the veteran of the 1980 Olympic Games — where he competed as a kayaker in the four-man 1,000-m event, which made it to the semifinals — was in hospital for weeks because of the impact of the collision. He was taken off life support and passed away on June 24 at 6:30 a.m. He would have turned 59 years old the next day.
During what would prove to be Hancock’s final week, 40 of his friends and fellow cyclists, the Toronto Star reported, rode from Etobicoke, Ont., to Mississauga in honour of the injured rider. They stopped for a moment of silence and and to place flowers at the collision site. Along with his other accomplishments, the British athlete was also the CEO of VidWRX Inc., a Toronto-based video solutions firm.
“He lived life,” said Linda McPhee, a friend close to Hancock and his family, as quoted by the Star. “He lived it really full.”
“He’s going to be missed.”
