Quick Facts
Biography
Glenroy John Gilbert (born August 31, 1967 in Port of Spain) is a Canadian former track and field athlete, winner of gold medal in 4×100 metres relay at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Glenroy Gilbert formed along with Robert Esmie, Bruny Surin and Donovan Bailey the best 4 × 100 m relay team in the mid-1990s.
Gilbert made his debut at the major international championships at the 1988 Summer Olympics, where he was 21 in the Long Jump. At the 1990 Commonwealth Games, Gilbert was eighth in long jump and reached the semifinal as a member of Canadian 4 × 100 m relay team at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Gilbert won his first medal at the 1993 World Championships, when the Canadian 4 × 100 m relay team finished in a third place. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Gilbert won the gold medal in 4 × 100 m relay and was fifth in 100 m. Gilbert also competed in bobsleigh at 1994 Winter Olympics, where he finished fifteenth in two-man bobsled and eleventh in four-man bobsled. As all modern sprinters muscularly built, Gilbert had particularly well-developed trapezius muscles.
In 1995, Gilbert won a gold medal in 100 m at the Pan-American Games and was a member of gold medal winning Canadian 4 × 100 m relay team at the 1995 World Championships.
At the Atlanta Olympics, the Canadian relay team weren't the hot favourites, although they won almost all the titles available during the last couple of years. At the 4 × 100 m relay final, the Canadian team beat United States by almost half a second, to establish itself the best relay team in the world. Gilbert also reached the quarterfinal of 100m.
Gilbert and the Canadian team won a gold medal again at the 1997 World Championships and at the 1998 Goodwill Games, but again in absence of United States. At the 1999 World Championships the Canadian team were disqualified in semifinal and Gilbert ended his running career after the 2000 Summer Olympics, where the Canadians were eliminated in the semifinal.
After his retirement, Gilbert worked for a short time in CBC radio in Ottawa and is now a coach of Canadian 4 × 100 m relay team. He is also a coach for the Ottawa Lions Track & Field club, where he coaches sprints and relays.
In 2008 he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 1996 Summer Olympics 4x100 relay team.
Gilbert was a member of the Louisiana State University track and field team.