Catégorie
Athlete
Sport
Badminton
Ville natale
Saint John
Année d'intronisation
2001
athlete
Michael "Mike"Butler
MEMBRE HONORÉ
Biographie
For twenty-one years Saint John’s Mike Butler dominated the sport of badminton, winning some 82 championships -- and he did so without national acclaim or a full-time coach, but with the support and devotion of his wife and best friend, Rolyne. For five consecutive years, he was Canada’s men’s singles champion and for ten years a member of our national team.He and his partner represented Canada at the 1988 Olympic Games as participants in the demonstration sport of mixed doubles. That doubles partner, Vancouver’s Claire Backhouse-Sharpe, said this: “there is no athlete I respect more than Mike.The tougher the challenge, the brighter was the twinkle in his eyes and the fire in his heart.Saint John has a Canadian treasure in Mike Butler.” Enrolled in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, June 2nd, 2001.
Faits rapides
Competed in badminton from 1973-1994
Won 36 New Brunswick; 24 Maritime; 15 Canadian 7 Pan American championships
Won 5 consecutive Canadian men’s singles championships (1983-87)
At 1987 Canadian Championships, he won the men’s singles, men doubles, and mixed doubles championships, registering a "triple crown"
Competed at Commonwealth Games, 1986 & 1990, won silver medals at both Games in team event
Competed at Devlin Cup, (vs. United States), 1983; Thomas Cup (similar to Davis Cup in tennis) 1984 & 1988; World Championships, 4 times
NB Athlete of the Year (1983-86)
Selected by City of Saint John to the "Group of Five", in 1989, as the city’s outstanding sports figure