George Athans Jr. was recognized for his achievements in water skiing by being inducted into both Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Amateur Sports Hall of Fame, plus being awarded the Order of Canada in 1974. Raised in an athletic family, his father, Dr. George Athans, Sr. is also a member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame. His mother excelled in swimming and his two brothers Greg and Gary are both excellent water and snow skiers.
Athans is a four-time world water skiing champion (1971-74) and two-time western hemisphere champion (1968 and 1970). He held the world slalom record for four consecutive years from 1969-72.
Athans won the Canadian championship nine straight years from 1966-74 and won the US Masters championship in 1974.
He was voted Canada’s amateur athlete of the year for 1972 and 1973, and BC athlete of the year in 1971.