Dean Bauck

When Dean Bauck was awarded the Outstanding Male Athlete Award in grade seven at Ladner Elementary, little did he know that was the first of many awards to come his way. Although excelling at basket- ball, it was his record-breaking high jump performance at the Fraser Valley Championships that veered him in a totally different and very productive course in track and field. That jump led him to a first place finish at the BC High School Championships followed by an impressive second place finish at the Canadian Juvenile Championships. What an entry into the sport of high jump!

But this was only the beginning of Dean’s “glory days” in high jump. He was nationally carded in 1974, after he posted several first place finishes as a member of both the Canadian Junior and Senior men’s teams against strong European opponents from France, West Germany, Great Britain and Wales. In 1976 he bested former Olympic gold medallist Jacek Wzola of Poland and silver medallist, Canadian star high jumper, Greg Joy. Although Dean qualified for the 1976 Olympic Games with a best jump of 2. 18m, an injury to his jumping knee sidelined him until 1978 when he came roaring back with a bronze medal performance at the Commonwealth Games. In 1979 he established a record jump of 2. 15m which still stands today as the longest standing Canada West record.

Dean Bauck again qualified for Olympic competition, this time for 1980, but it was the misfortune of a boycott of those Games which prevented him from attending. Undaunted, he won the gold medal at the Pacific Conference Games and twice defeated then world ranked #1 high jumper Jeff Woodard. Dean’s jumps improved to 2. 19m while he competed all over the world and posted many a podium finish. He was named Outstanding Athlete of BC and awarded the prestigious Cal D Bricker Memorial Trophy as top high jumper in Canada.

Dean retired from competition and from 1983 – 1989 coached at Kajaks Track Club. He returned to his first love, basketball and has won numerous medals, including gold in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the BC Masters Basketball championships, as well as two bronze medals at the World’s Masters Games. It seems Dean has come full circle.