Carlton CHAMBERS

Carlton Chambers first made a mark on the Canadian athletic scene when he set a national junior record in the 100 metres in 1994. He brought his talents to the international stage later that year, winning bronze in the 4x100 metre relay at the World Junior Championships and gold in the same event at the Commonwealth Games alongside Donovan Bailey, Glenroy Gilbert, and Bruny Surin. In the lead-up to the 1996 Summer Olympics, Chambers competed for Clemson University in South Carolina and, at the 1996 NCAA Championships, finished fourth in the 100m. In the opening heat of the 4x100 relay at the 1996 Games, Chambers’ quartet ran the second-fastest times in the heats, behind only the storied Americans, and repeated this feat in the semi-finals. Prior to the final, however, Chambers discovered that he had suffered a groin injury and was replaced by Robert Esmie, who went on to help the Canadians capture the gold medal, one of their greatest triumphs in national sports history . Chambers had earlier competed in the 200 metre event, but did not survive past the opening round. His injury hampered the remainder of his career and, although he attempted to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics, he never regained his pre-Olympic form. He was inducted into the Mississauga Sports Council Hall of Fame in 2005 and, with his gold medal-winning relay team, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.19 (1996); 200 – 20.66 (1996).