Builders

Legacy / Founders & Builders

DOUG CLEMENT

Doug Clement is a distinguished Canadian athlete, coach, and sports medicine pioneer whose contributions have significantly shaped Vancouver’s athletic landscape. He represented Canada in sprinting events at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics, competing in the 400 meters and 4×400 meters relay.

Alongside his wife Diane Clement, he co-founded the Achilles Track and Field Society in 1962, offering athletes the chance to compete internationally, as well as organizing the annual Harry Jerome International Track Classic, one of North America’s premier track meets. They also established the Vancouver Sun Run in 1985, which has grown into one of the world’s largest timed 10 km races, attracting thousands of participants annually.

Beyond organizing events, Doug introduced sports medicine to Canada, co-founding the UBC Sports Medicine Clinic and serving as a coach and educator at the University of British Columbia. His dedication to athletics has been recognized with inductions into multiple halls of fame and the awarding of the Order of Canada.

Doug Clement’s enduring legacy continues to inspire athletes and enrich Vancouver’s running community.