Hall of Fame
In every sport, there is an athlete who everyone can agree is fantastic. In the mid-1980s, that athlete was Frank Balkovec and in this case, the sports were multiple – football, track and field and volleyball.
Frank, who was a Physical Education student, was the top selection in the CFL’s amateur player draft after playing Varsity football for just one full season. He was one of the mainstays of a tough Toronto defense that in 1983 led the Blues to their first Yates Cup since 1974. A middle linebacker, Frank was also selected to the OUAA first All-Star team, played Varsity volleyball and was called “the finest athlete I’ve ever coached” by Blues football coach Doug Mitchell.
But before he was a star football player, Frank had made his mark on the track and field world. He was OUAA discus and shot put champion from 1982 to 1984 and set a CIAU record in indoor shot put in 1984. With this win, he became the first athlete to win the same CIAU track and field event in three consecutive years. Frank was named the U of T male athlete of the year in 1984.
After university, Frank continued in Canadian sport, playing professional football for eight years for Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa. He was also a member of the Canadian National Bobsled team in 1988 and 1989.
