>>1996 OLYMPIC LEGACY AT LAKE LANIER

Gold!  It was a cry first heard in North Georgia in the 1800's. It was a cry heard again in the summer of 1996 as competitors in rowing, canoeing, and kayaking brought Olympic glory to a scenic lake not far from the hills in which prospectors first discovered gold.

Building From Local Support. What became an Olympic success story began in the mind of Gainesville architect Jack Pyburn. A rower himself, he knew Lake Sidney Lanier would be an ideal location for the rowing venue. The idea gained momentum as Jim Mathis, a dedicated community leader, pitched in to work on building the community support network needed to make the dream into reality.

Early in 1993, a steering committee of 45 community leaders was formed and became known as "Gainesville-Hall '96," an official Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games support group. This group of dedicated volunteers began a campaign of "polite persistence," as Atlanta Olympics chief Billy Payne described it in his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony in January 1995.

Experience From Hosting Events. These community organizers knew that experience in handling and organizing major events would enhance their efforts. With this in mind, and with the help of the Atlanta Junior Rowing Club, Gainesville-Hall '96 began to plan for the Southeast Regional Junior Rowing Regatta, scheduled for May 15, 1993. The City of Gainesville and the Gainesville Parks and Recreation Agency sponsored the event at Woods Mill Bay on Lake Lanier. Five hundred twenty seven rowers from four southeastern states participated, with more than 2,500 spectators attending.

The coordination and success of this regatta attracted the attention of the German National Rowing Team, reigning world champions, who were seeking a training site to prepare for the 1994 World Championship in Indianapolis. Another step toward fulfilling the promise of Lake Lanier Venue was taken when the German team announced it would train on Lake Lanier in 1994.

Olympic Bid Becomes Reality. "It's Lanier," The Times declared on December 23, 1993, when Jim Mathis received the historic telephone call announcing the Clark's Bridge site on Lake Lanier as the rowing, canoeing, and kayaking venue for the 1996 Olympic Games. The concerted community effort has laid the groundwork for what is proving to be a strong sporting legacy well into the future.

Our Legacy Continues. Besides the 1996 Olympic Games at the Clark's Bridge venue, the resident Lake Lanier Rowing Club and Lanier Canoe-Kayak Club have hosted a number of important rowing and canoe and kayak events, including the 1997 Champion International Collegiate Rowing Regatta, the 1997 Canoe-Kayak Nationals, the 1998 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championship, and the 1999 USRowing Masters Nationals -- only to name a few!

A final "gold" note: the finish line of the course is in view of the home of the late Bill Fields, one of the members of the 1952 US Rowing team that won the Olympic gold medal at the Helsinki, Finland Games. From start to finish, a true path of gold!