• Held the Golden Bears record for the 50-yard freestyle and was captain of the team for two years.
• Competed on the 1974 CIAU championship team, winning one gold and two silver medals.
• Member of the 1975 Canada West championship team, winning five gold medals.
• Starred in the sport of water polo, resulting in his recruitment to Canada's national team.
• Won the Canadian pentathlon championship three times and represented Canada in pentathlon at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

Barry Kennedy graduated from Strathcona High School during the era when this school had the strongest swimming program in the province. Murray Smith then coach of the Pandas and Golden Bears swim team encouraged Barry to enroll at the U of A.

From his freshman year onward, Barry Kennedy established his reputation as an outstanding swimmer and competitor. The Golden Bears, during his years as a team member, were a powerhouse in Canada West and won the CIAU championship in 1973-74. An outstanding freestyle swimmer, Barry set a Golden Bear record in the 50-yard sprint, was named to the Al1Canadian swim team from 1972 to 1975, and captained the Golden Bears teams of 1973-74 and 1974-75. His swimming prowess was recognized in 1974-1975 when Barry won the Beaumont Trophy (awarded to the Golden Bear with the best overall record).

When the Golden Bears won the 1974-75 CWUAA title, Barry Kennedy swam on the gold medalist 400 and 800-yard freestyle as well as the 400-yard medley relay teams and won the individual gold medals in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle sprints. An outstanding five gold medal performance!! On the CIAU championship team of 1973-74 Barry swam on the gold medal 800-yard freestyle relay, the silver medal 400-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley teams.

For a period of time in the late 1960's and early 1970's the CWUAA hosted championships in water polo. Barry Kennedy starred in this sport as well and was a member of the Bears team that won the Canada West title in 1970-71. As well as playing with the Bears he played for the Edmonton Piranhas who went on to win the Canadian Junior Championships in 1972, 1973 and 1974. Barry was named to the Canadian Junior All-Star team in 1972. At the 1973 Canada Games Barry was a member of the Alberta silver medalist water polo team. In 1974-75, Barry Kennedy competed as a member of Canada's national water polo team. Barry continued to play water polo in the Edmonton Senior League until 1988 and was a dominant player, winning Most Valuable Player and Top Goal Scorer Awards on numerous occasions.

Since graduation Barry has continued his athletic career. He turned his talents to a complex and demanding sport, the Modern Pentathlon (an Olympic event comprised of 5 distinct activities: a 4 km cross-country run, a 300-meter swim, pistol shooting at moving targets over a 25 meter range, a 15 jump equestrian course, and epee fencing). As a modem Pentathlete, Barry won the Canadian championship in 1980, 1985 and 1987. In 1987 he captured a silver medal in the Pan American Games and in 1988 he represented Canada at the Seoul Olympics in the modem Pentathlon.

Barry Kennedy has also won the provincial and western Canadian titles in epee fencing and finished fourth in Canada in this sport in 1984. Over the years this inductee has coached the sports of water polo, modern pentathlon and soccer, and has served provincial and national sport organizations as a senior volunteer executive officer. As an all-round athlete and leader, Barry Kennedy has few equals and the University of Alberta is proud to add his name to the Sports Wall of Fame.