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Denny Morrison

Canada

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSCAN10809198501
NOCCanada
Born08 Sep 1985 in  Chetwynd
GenderMen
LanguagesEnglish
Higher educationScience - University of Calgary: Canada
FamilyWife Josie Morrison
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 34.85 28 Dec 2007 Calgary  
    1000m 1:07.11 07 Mar 2009 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 1:42.01 14 Mar 2008 Calgary  
    5000m 6:19.91 01 Dec 2017 Calgary  
    10000m 13:41.65 31 Dec 2007 Calgary  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    1000m   1    
    1500m     1  
    Team Pursuit 1 1    
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    1000m   2 1  
    1500m 2 1 2  
    Team Pursuit   3    
General Interest
General Interest
HobbiesMountain biking. (cbc.ca, 17 Oct 2016)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He began skating at age three in Chetwynd, BC, Canada.  
General Interest
General Interest
Famous relativesHis family have been involved in speed skating. His father Dennis is a former Canadian Masters champion, his mother Carol has served as an official at national level, his older brother Jay has represented the national team, while his older sister Julie competed in the sport at youth level. His wife Josie Morrison [nee Spence] represented Canada in speed skating at the 2016 World Single Distances Championships in Kolomna, Russian Federation. (schaatsen.nl, 17 May 2017; SportsDeskOnline, 05 Jan 2017; nationalpost.com, 23 Oct 2016; NOC Media Guide, 2014)  
Hero / IdolCanadian triathlete Simon Whitfield. (Athlete, 10 Dec 2013)  
AmbitionsTo study medicine. (globalnews.ca, 07 Feb 2020)  
Awards and honoursHe was named Male Long Track Skater of the Year by Speed Skating Canada in 2006, 2007 and 2008. (Speed Skating Canada, 19 Jan 2009)

He was named Fort St. John Skater of the Year for seven consecutive years until 2003, when he moved to Calgary, AB, Canada. (Speed Skating Canada, 19 Jan 2009)
 
Memorable sporting achievementWinning gold in team pursuit at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and claiming silver in the 1000m at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Also winning gold medals in the 1500m at the 2008 and 2012 world championships. (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHe parents wanted him to learn how to skate. He competed in short track and speed skating until the 2002/03 season, when he decided to focus on speed skating.  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHis brother Jay Morrison. (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017)  
InjuriesIn April 2016 he completed a 25-day mountain bike tour in the United States of America. On the way back to Canada he began slurring his words and was hospitalised in Salt Lake City in Utah for a few days, where doctors told him he had suffered a stroke. Two stents were surgically implanted in his neck in June 2016 and he began racing again three months later. (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017; cbc.ca, 17 Oct 2016)

He was involved in a motorcycle accident in May 2015 in which he sustained a concussion, a punctured lung, a torn anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] in his knee, bruised liver and kidneys and a small fracture in a bone near his spine. He returned to competition in March 2016. (cbc.ca, 17 Oct 2016; schaatsen.nl, 25 Apr 2016)

He broke his leg cross-country skiing in December 2012, and was out of action for four months. (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017; theglobeandmail.com, 18 Jan 2013)

He has suffered an acromioclavicular joint separation [AC separation] during his career. (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017)
 
Sporting philosophy / motto"No excuses." (Athlete, 08 Feb 2017)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.denny-morrison.com/  
twitter.com/Denny_Morrison  
www.facebook.com/1.DennyM  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationRETIREMENT
He announced his retirement from competitive speed skating in February 2020, having been away from competition since 2018. He said he planned to apply to study medicine. "It took me that time to shift my goal from speed skating and achieving everything I can in speed skating and break what was a habit in some ways of never wanting to give up and not wanting to quit until I was bumped off the team, to realising I have other goals in life and in school." (globalnews.ca, 07 Feb 2020)

INJURIES AND STROKE
He suffered serious injuries, including a punctured lung and a small fracture to a bone near his spine, in a motorcycle accident in May 2015. He returned to the ice in March the following year. In April 2016 he suffered a stroke, and required two stents to be surgically inserted into his neck. He was back in competition less than six months later. "After the motorcycle accident, I could push myself as hard as my pain tolerance would allow and my heart rate, there was no limitation really. With the stroke I could not raise my blood pressure and potentially have one of these stents come loose and travel into my brain and kill me. When you put it in that simple of terms you're like, 'Alright', but you get a little stir crazy too." (cbc.ca, 17 Oct 2016)

SUPER SUBSTITUTE
He competed in the 1000m at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi after teammate Gilmore Junio offered to give up his spot in the event. Junio felt it was in the best interests of the Canadian team that Morrison raced instead of him. Morrison went on to win a silver medal in the event. "Giving up your spot is unprecedented. I feel like getting my medal and cutting it in half because he deserves it." (huffingtonpost.ca, 12 Feb 2014; nbcsports.com, 12 Feb 2014)
 
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2010 Olympic Games Team Pursuit 8 Laps1  
    2007/2008 World Single Distances Championships 1500m1  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships 500m1  
    2007/2008 World Allround Championships 500m1  
    2008/2009 World Allround Championships 500m1  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships 1500m1  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2006/2007 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2006/2007 World Single Distances Championships 1000m2  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1500m2  
    2006/2007 World Allround Championships 1500m2  
    2007/2008 World Allround Championships 1500m2  
    2006/2007 World Allround Championships 500m2  
    2008/2009 World Single Distances Championships 1000m2  
    2014 Olympic Games 1000m2  
    2006 Olympic Games Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2005/2006 World Allround Championships 1500m3  
    2008/2009 World Single Distances Championships 1500m3  
    2006/2007 World Single Distances Championships 1500m3  
    2007/2008 World Single Distances Championships 1000m3  
    2014 Olympic Games 1500m3  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps4  
    2014 Olympic Games Team Pursuit 8 Laps4  
    2007/2008 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps4  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1000m4  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships 1000m4  
    2005/2006 World Allround Championships Allround5  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships 1000m5  
    2008/2009 World Sprint Championships Overall5  
    2008/2009 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps6  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships 1500m6  
    2007/2008 World Allround Championships Allround6  
    2018 Olympic Games Team Pursuit 8 Laps7  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps7  
    2007/2008 World Sprint Championships Overall7  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships Allround7  
    2008/2009 World Allround Championships Allround7  
    2010/2011 World Sprint Championships Overall7  
    2006/2007 World Sprint Championships Overall7  
    2010 Olympic Games 1500m9  
    2006/2007 World Allround Championships Allround10  
    2006 Olympic Games 1500m11  
    2011/2012 World Sprint Championships Overall13  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 1000m13  
    2018 Olympic Games 1500m13  
    2010 Olympic Games 1000m13  
    2017/2018 World Allround Championships Allround17  
    2010 Olympic Games 5000m18  
    2006 Olympic Games 1000m19  
    2006/2007 World Single Distances Championships 500m20  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m1  
    2005/2006 North American & Oceanic Wch Allround Qualifier Allround1  
    2005/2006 North American & Oceanic Wch Allround Qualifier Allround1  
    2009/2010 North American & Oceanic Wch Allround Qualifier Allround1  
    2009/2010 North American & Oceanic Wch Allround Qualifier Allround1  
    2009/2010 North American & Oceanic Wch Allround Qualifier Allround1  
    2017/2018 Salt Lake City, UT Team Pursuit 8 Laps1  
    2014/2015 Erfurt 1500m1  
    2007/2008 Calgary 1000m1  
    2014/2015 Erfurt 1000m1  
    2008/2009 Erfurt 1500m1  
    2008/2009 Berlin Team Pursuit 8 Laps1  
    2008/2009 Erfurt Team Pursuit 8 Laps1  
    2007/2008 Calgary Team Pursuit 8 Laps1  
    2013/2014 Heerenveen 1000m1  
    2005/2006 Calgary Team Pursuit 8 Laps1  
    2012/2013 Heerenveen 1000m1  
    2008/2009 Kolomna 1000m1  
    2008/2009 Kolomna 1000m1  
    2007/2008 Hamar 1000m1  
    2006/2007 Calgary 1000m1  
    2006/2007 Turin Team Pursuit 8 Laps1  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 1500m2  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2005/2006 Turin 1500m2  
    2009/2010 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2016/2017 Astana Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2010/2011 Hamar Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2013/2014 Inzell 1500m2  
    2009/2010 Calgary, AB Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 1500m2  
    2010/2011 Moscow 1000m2  
    2010/2011 Moscow 1500m2  
    2012/2013 Nagano 1000m2  
    2011/2012 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m2  
    2011/2012 Astana 1500m2  
    2007/2008 Inzell 1000m2  
    2007/2008 Inzell 1000m2  
    2008/2009 Nagano 1000m2  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 1500m2  
    2007/2008 Erfurt 1000m2  
    2009/2010 Heerenveen 1500m2  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 1000m2  
    2008/2009 Erfurt 1000m2  
    2005/2006 Heerenveen Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 1000m2  
    2007/2008 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m2  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1500m3  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1500m3  
    2005/2006 Turin 1000m3  
    2006/2007 Berlin Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2006/2007 Heerenveen 1000m3  
    2009/2010 Calgary 1500m3  
    2008/2009 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m3  
    2009/2010 Salt Lake City, UT Team Pursuit 8 Laps3  
    2009/2010 Berlin 1500m3  
    2010/2011 Obihiro 1000m3  
    2009/2010 Calgary 1000m3  
    2014/2015 Hamar 1500m3  
    2007/2008 Hamar 1500m3  
    2008/2009 Nagano 1000m3  
    2006/2007 Turin 1500m3  
    2008/2009 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m3  
    2011/2012 Chelyabinsk 1000m3  
    2006/2007 Calgary 1500m3  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m4  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1000m4  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 1500m6  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Overall6  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m6  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Overall6  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m7  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification Overall7  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1500m7  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1500m8  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1000m11  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m12  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 1000m15  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 500m19  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m19  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Overall22  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m26  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m31  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 100m36  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 500m37  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 1000m38  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 500m43  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m43  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m43  
    2003/2004 World Cup Classification 1500m44  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 500m46  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m46  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Overall46  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m54