OTTAWA – Official Lee MacKay has been selected to be inducted into Wrestling Canada Lutte’s Hall of Fame Class of 2018 in the builder category. MacKay have been a driving force in Canadian officiating.

MacKay, of Stittsville, Ont. officiated at three Olympic Games, London 2012, Beijing 2008, and Athens 2004, as well as 21 consecutive Senior World Championships from 1995 to 2013.

“It’s a great honour, and a very humbling experience to be inducted into the Wrestling Canada Hall of Fame,” said MacKay.

“Things like this are never done on your own. There is a long list of people who have contributed to my getting to this point in my career. When you think back on all the great wrestlers, coaches and builders who have helped get Canadian wrestling, and wrestling officiating, up to the level it is today, to think that I had some small part in that, makes me very proud.”

“Wrestling officiating really hasn’t changed much over my career. The basic mechanics and the spirit of officiating has remained the same. I was lucky to have mentors who were always trying to instill in us a sense of fair play and honesty, and that is what Canadian officials are known for throughout the world. I hope that I have continued to lead in the same way. As officials, you go through many rule interpretation changes, but the basic mechanics remain the same, and that sense of fair play is foremost in importance.”

MacKay also officiated at eight World Junior and Espoir Championships, seven Pan American Senior Championships, seven European Senior Championships, four World Cadet Championships and two Commonwealth Games.

MacKay retired from international officiating in 2013 due to United World Wrestling mandatory age regulations.

“Lee has given so much to wrestling in Canada for decades,” said Tamara Medwidsky, Executive Director of Wrestling Canada Lutte. “We’re pleased to be able to honour his tremendous contributions to the sport.”

MacKay will be honoured on March 17 at the Junior / Senior Canadian Championships in Montreal.