Skip To Main Content

University of Alberta

University Of Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas

University Of Alberta
Golden Bears & Pandas

University of Alberta, opens in new window.
Be The Roar

Sports Wall of Fame

Chris Bowie

  • Class
  • Induction
    2023
  • Sport(s)
    Golden Bears Swimming
  • Golden Bears swimmer (1988-1992)
  • 13-time Canada West Medalist (4 G, 6 S, 3 B)
  • Nine-time U SPORTS Medalist (1 G, 7 S, 1 B)
  • 1991 Golden Bears Swimming team MVP
  • Two-time CIS Team bronze medalist (1990, 1991)
  • Spent eight years on Canadian National Team
  • Competed at 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 1989 Pan Pacific Championships, 1990 Commonwealth Games, and 1991 Universiade Games
A sure-fire way to improve as a high-performance athlete is to surround yourself with even better athletes. There may be no better example of that effect than the one former Golden Bears Swimming champion Chris Bowie, ‘92 BA had while on UofA campus. 

A tremendous athlete himself, Bowie had the ability to raise the level for the entire Bears program during his time in the West Pool at the UofA, bringing the team to heights they hadn’t seen in two decades. The greatest of athletes not only display individual talent, but also have the ability to lift everyone else, and that was Bowie. 

From 1988-91, the Prince George, B.C. product was an unstoppable force in the pool for the Bears. Over his four years on campus, Bowie captured 13 individual Canada West medals, nine CIAU medals, and helped lead the Bears to a pair of national team bronze medals. 

Coupled with his success as a varsity swimmer, Bowie also spent eight years competing with the Canadian national team, which allowed the freestyle swimmer to accumulate even more medals through the summer months. 

“Chris was an exceptional leader both in and out of the water, dedicating himself to his sport and team,” said Dave Johnson, who was the head coach of the UofA Swim program from 1983-1993, and coached at nine Olympic Games. “Training for the distance freestyle events required self-discipline and commitment, which often meant 18-20 hours per week in the pool and 65,000 to 80,000 meters swam. The commitment he brought to his training inspired his teammates and lifted the performance level of the team in training and competition.” 

Coming from the Prince George Barracudas Swim Club, Bowie wasted little time racking up medals as a first-year Bears swimmer in 1989. Bowie finished his rookie season with two conference gold medals in the 400m and 1500m freestyle, before winning the long distance event at the CIAU Championship in Vancouver. 

After nine medals as a freshman, Bowie added another seven in his second season, including CW Gold in the 400m Free and 400m individual medley. He followed up his varsity season with a bronze medal in the 400m Freestyle at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Aukland, New Zealand. 

1991 saw Bowie add another three conference and three national medals, before earning a pair of bronze medals at the 1991 Summer FISU Games in Sheffield, UK.  

After failing to qualify for the 1988 Summer Olympics, Bowie redeemed himself four years later, winning the 1500m freestyle at the Canadian Olympic Trials, earning a spot at the ‘92 Barcelona Olympics. The then-26 year old placed 15th in the 1500m freestyle, and ninth in the 4x200m freestyle relay. 

“The accomplishment of making the Barcelona Olympics was a testament to Chris’ hard work and determination,” continued Johnson. “Many athletes would be unable to overcome the disappointment of past failures. However for Chris, this spurred him on and the next four years saw Chris go on a tear and accomplish his lofty goals.” 

Bowie also competed at multiple Pan Pacific Championships, through the late 1980s and early 1990s. He had a sixth and seventh place finish in 1991 in Edmonton, two fourth-place showings (to go along with his bronze) in Tokyo in 1989, a fourth and ninth in Brisbane in 1988 and a fifth in Tokyo in 1985.

He was inducted into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, the same year he earned his law degree from the University of Alberta. Since being admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1997, Bowie has been a practicing lawyer in Edmonton.

Chris Bowie is the second Golden Bears Swimmer to be inducted onto the University of Alberta’s Sports Wall of Fame in the Athlete category.
Explore HOF Explore Sports Wall of Fame Members
Skip Sponsors