Ottawa Pacers Book of Achievement
Michel van Musschenbroek

Pacer Member

Category

Elected

Michel van Musschenbroek finished second in his first Provincial Championships, always earning medals in both Short Track or Long Track.

1981    he won 4 of 6 events and the Championship at the Lake Placid Open, competing against skaters from Ontario, Quebec and New England.
1983    he was the top long track male skater for Ontario at the Canada Games, (Chicoutimi, QC), finishing  4th in the 500m, 6th in the 1500m and 7th in the 3000m.  During Winterlude, Michel achieved "15 minutes of national fame" as he won a 500m race against a horse on the Rideau Canal (Ottawa, ON). 

At 20 yrs of age, Michel turned his attention to coaching, reaching Level 3 National Certification.  He was Head Coach for the Brampton Optimist Speed Skating Club, developing skaters into Provincial and National medallists.  Michel was also Chief Starter at the World Masters Championships in 1983.  As Jr. Technical Director for OSSA (1991 - 1993), he organized the 1993 provincial camp in Kingston, ON.

In February of 1992, Michel organized the largest, single day Speed Skating demonstration in Canada's history at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON.  Highlighting skaters from all age groups at local and National levels, the TV show reached over half a million viewers and caused a considerable rise in calls at the Provincial Office.

Michel was also an accomplished cyclist, winning the Provincial Best All Round Time Trial in 1980.  He is married to wife Helen and has 3 children, Mikayla, Hannah, and Gabriel, and currently resides in the United States.