Cameron Baerg had a standout career as a rower winning a world title and an Olympic silver medal.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Baerg had one of his greatest achievements and disappointments in the same men’s coxless four race. The Canadian crew was beaten by 8/100ths of a second – a photo finish – in the 2,000-metre race. While they lost to the defending Olympic champions from Great Britain, it was one of the great races in rowing history and was Canada’s only rowing medal at the 2004 Games.
Baerg won a world championship with the Canadian coxless fours in 2003 in Milan. It was another high point in a successful two years for the crew of Baerg, Jake Weitzel, Thomas Herschmiller and Barney Williams.
The Canadian fours began their run of success at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta Steward’s Challenge Cup in 2003. The Henley Regatta features a series of head-to-head races and was first held in 1839. The Canadians turned a lot of heads by winning the event. They also won two World Rowing Cup events before claiming their world title.
Baerg got started with a learn-to-row program with the Saskatoon Rowing Club and made quick progress, earning a spot on an eights boat for a junior men’s regatta in Victoria. Two years later, he was on the provincial team, winning a silver medal in men’s eights and a bronze in men’s fours at the Canada Summer Games in Saskatoon in 1989.
Baerg began testing himself against national team members at the annual Speedrow Regatta and, after a few years, started to see a path onto the national team. He was invited to winter national training camps and relocated to Victoria to commit to his Olympic dream.
He made his national team debut in 1998 at a world championship before attending the Pan American Games in Winnipeg in 1999. After missing out on the 2000 Summer Olympics, Baerg rededicated himself and found himself part of a successful team in the fours with new national team head coach Mike Spracklen. Baerg retired from international competition in 2005.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame on September 26, 2026.
