From community clubs to the Olympics, Gordon Mackie has been there to wrap wrenched knees and turned ankles. Being an athlete himself, he was spurred on to pursue a physiotherapy degree with the armed forces and graduated in 1949. Mackie was not satisfied with the practice of physiotherapy at that time, as he did not feel it fulfilled the requirements of the athletes competing at the higher levels.

Mackie’s first love is boxing. After trying his hand in the sport as an athlete, in 1949 he became an instructor at the YMCA. In 1950 he went on to operate the St. Boniface - Madison Boxing and Wrestling Club for ten years.

He was appointed therapist for the 1972 Munich Olympics and therapist coordinator for the Boxing, Wrestling, and Weightlifting group at the 1976 Olympics. He was the Head Therapist of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1959-60, healing the many battered and bruised bodies of the great Bomber teams in that era. From 1955-58 he was the therapist for the Winnipeg Warriors Hockey Team in the winter and the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball team in the summer.

Going to the top has not been the only focus of Mackie’s efforts. His door at the University of Manitoba campus was also open to minor hockey or soccer teams as well as young boxers and other aspiring athletes.

In 1966 Mackie became one of the founding members of the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association, which now has some 450 professionally oriented members out of some 4,000 associated members.

Two words can sum up what has kept Gordie Mackie going for 40 years: “The Athlete”. His search for the best possible care in preventing and treating athletic injuries has cured the many athletes who have struggled into his office. His dedication to the care of athletes will always be remembered.