Lee Parkhill

Biography

Lee Parkhill has wanted to represent Canada since he competed at his first national championships in 2006. He achieved a career highlight in qualifying for TORONTO 2015, a true home Games for the sailor who trains out of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. It got even better when he won the Laser bronze medal at those Pan Am Games, which he followed up with a fifth place finish at the Rio 2016 test event. In June 2016, Parkhill finished fourth at the World Cup event in Weymouth and Portland after posting second place finishes in the last two races. Parkhill previously had one of the best events of his career in November 2011 when he finished fifth at the Sail Melbourne International Regatta. But just a month later he had one of his worst events, which happened to be the ISAF World Championships and the first half of the Canadian trials for the 2012 Olympic team. Parkhill ended up ranked third of the Canadians in the field, making it all but impossible for him to earn the Olympic berth. He rebounded in 2012 by matching his best-ever world championship result, placing 16^th. Parkhill made his Olympic debut at Rio 2016.

Getting to Know…

Family: Parents Allan and Laurie Parkhill… Older brother Brett… Wife Alexandra Parkhill… Daughter Emma was born in April 2016… Getting into the Sport: Started sailing lessons at age 8… Began racing competitively at age 13 after being intrigued by his older brother… The whole family was involved in the sport… Outside Interests: Graduated from the University of Guelph in 2010 with a Bachelor of Commerce… Enjoys woodworking, crossfit, and spending time at the cottage… Odds and Ends: Nickname: Leeroy… Always travels with a Canadian flag that was signed by everyone who attended a fundraiser for him in 2012… Favourite quote: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine…