Don Wittman: Longtime CBC Sports Broadcaster Dies at 71

January 19, 2008

Don Wittman was a Canadian sportscaster. Born Donald Rae Wittman on October 9, 1936, in Herbert, Saskatchewan, he started in radio news in Saskatoon in 1955.

He joined CBC Sports in 1961 and became a familiar voice on CFL football, Hockey Night in Canada and curling coverage. He famously called Donovan Bailey's world-record 100-meter run at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Sports Media Canada named him Broadcaster of the Year in 2002. Wittman died of cancer in a Winnipeg hospital on January 19, 2008, at age 71, with his wife, Judy, and children Karen, Kristen and David by his side.

Achievements: Sports Media Canada Broadcaster of the Year (2002), called Donovan Bailey's 1996 world record.

Birth: October 9, 1936 - Herbert, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Profession: Sports broadcaster.

Interesting Facts: At the 1972 Munich Olympics he and Bob Moir sneaked into the Olympic Village to file live reports.