Frank Dunn – Athlete
As an athlete, Frank Dunn excelled in gymnastics, diving and triathlon, competing on the provincial, national and international stage. Early on in his athletic career, Frank was a member of the PA Kinsmen Gymnastics Club. He would always make the podium in all six apparatus in multiple meets held in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Winnipeg; winning at least three of those events and placing second or third in the others.
Frank showed incredible skill, strength and flexibility at those competitions, performing moves that many others couldn’t. He made a name for himself in the gymnastics world, winning a Western Canadian meet in Winnipeg.
Frank began competing in the sport of diving when he attended the University of Manitoba in 1971 and he quickly excelled, later transferring to the University of Calgary to join that university’s diving club. At the U of C, Frank was named the male athlete of the year in 1975-1976 and was CIAU all-Canadian for two years in 1974-1975 and 1975-76, winning both events one meter and three-meter springboard and setting two new all high records in both. In 1975, Frank won Alberta provincials in all three events including 10 meter and on a national level Frank won Canadian one meter springboard and placed third on 10 meter tower. His success earned him a spot in Canada’s National Diving team program and included the honour of being a member of Canada’s Diving Olympic training program for the 1976 Olympics. He earned a spot as the first alternate on Canada’s Olympic Diving team.
He continued his diving career as a member of the Canadian team invited to compete in the CanAmMex series which involved competing in diving meets in Canada, the US and Mexico. In Mexico’s Open international meet, Frank received a fifth place finish for 10 meter tower. After his career with the national diving team, Frank returned to diving in the 1980s in the Masters division and continued on in Prince Albert coaching both the sport of diving and gymnastics, receiving the Saskatchewan (Keith Russell) male gymnastic coach award.
When he wasn’t diving or involved in gymnastics or trampoline, Frank decided it would be a good idea to start the Frank Dunn Triathlon in 1982. Frank continues to sponsor the now second longest running triathlon in Canada. He, of course, also competed in a number of triathlon events including Vancouver marathon and Penticton Ironman.
