James Patrick McEwan (September 24, 1952 – June 14, 2014) was an American slalom canoeist who competed in the 1970s and then again in the 1980s and early 1990s. He teamed up with his son Devin to compete in the 2000s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the C1 eventatMunichin1972.
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's canoe slalom | ||
Representing  United States
| ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1972 Munich | C1 |
| World Championships | ||
 |
1987 Bourg St.-Maurice | C2 |
McEwan was born in Olney, Maryland and began kayaking at his family's Valley Mill Camp.[1] He earned a degree in literature from Yale University in 1975. He was married to children's author and illustrator Sandra Boynton, a fellow Yale graduate (class of 1974).
With his partner, Lecky Haller, McEwan won a silver medal in the C2 slalom at the 1987 ICF Canoe Slalom World ChampionshipsinBourg St.-Maurice. He and Haller placed fourth in the 1992 Summer Olympics. They have also won the overall World Cup title in the C2 category in the inaugural season of this competition in 1988.
In 1998 McEwan and his brother Tom were members of an expedition to run the Tsangpo Gorge, considered the "Mount Everest" of rivers. The expedition encountered unanticipated high water and ended in tragedy when teammate Doug Gordon failed to boof a waterfall, missed his roll, and died.[2]
McEwan wrote many children's books. In 2009 he was diagnosed with Multiple myeloma after suffering back problems[3] and died on June 14, 2014.[4]
| Season | Date | Venue | Position | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 15 Aug 1989 | Augsburg | 2nd | C2 |
| 20 Aug 1989 | Tacen | 2nd | C2 | |
| 1990 | 26 Aug 1990 | Tacen | 2nd | C2 |
| 1991 | 25 Aug 1991 | Minden | 2nd | C2 |
| 1992 | 20 Jun 1992 | Bourg St.-Maurice | 2nd | C2 |