# Don Brien
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Don_Brien
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Don_Brien.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Brien
> Source revision: 1323400973
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{short description|Canadian sprint canoer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{MedalTableTop}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [canoe sprint](/source/Canoe_racing)}}
{{MedalWorldChampionships}}
{{MedalBronze|[1985 Mechelen](/source/1985_ICF_Canoe_Sprint_World_Championships)|K-2 1000 m}}
{{MedalBottom}}
'''Don Brien''' (born September 1, 1959 in [Halifax, Nova Scotia](/source/Halifax%2C_Nova_Scotia)) is a Canadian [sprint canoer](/source/canoe_racing), who competed in the mid to late 1980s. He won a bronze medal with partner [Colin Shaw](/source/Colin_Shaw_(canoeist)) in the K-2 1000 m at the [1985 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships](/source/1985_ICF_Canoe_Sprint_World_Championships) at [Mechelen](/source/Mechelen).
Brien also competed in two [Summer Olympics](/source/Summer_Olympics), earning his best finish of ninth in the [K-4 1000 m](/source/Canoeing_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_K-4_1000_metres) event at [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) in [1984](/source/1984_Summer_Olympics).[{{cite web|title=Don Brien|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/don-brien-1.html|website=Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=28 August 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924214149/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/br/don-brien-1.html|archivedate=24 September 2015}}]
Brien began paddling in 1975 at the Banook Canoe Club in [Dartmouth, Nova Scotia](/source/Dartmouth%2C_Nova_Scotia). Don's older brother Alvin Brien was also a successful paddler, and served as an early mentor. Alvin and Don were both named to the [1980 Summer Olympics](/source/1980_Summer_Olympics) in [Moscow](/source/Moscow), but did not compete due to the Canadian [boycott of those games](/source/1980_Summer_Olympics_boycott).[{{cite web|title=Don Brien|url=http://www.nsshf.com/Inductees/Search/InducteeDetails/tabid/571/Default.aspx?m=748|website=nsshf.com|publisher=Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame|accessdate=28 August 2015}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}][{{cite news|title=Eight Quebecers on canoe, kayak team|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HYkxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=caQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4992%2C748005|accessdate=3 September 2015|work=Montreal Gazette|date=June 3, 1980}}] In 1982, Alvin died at sea after a sailing accident.[{{cite news|last1=Middleton|first1=Janice|title=Survivor Recalls Death on the High Seas|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YtEyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yO4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1180%2C2661325|accessdate=28 August 2015|work=Ottawa Citizen|date=February 27, 1982}}] Don Brien went on to compete at both the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games. He was on the Canadian national team for 12 years, and achieved some of the best international results of any Canadian kayaker during that period.