As the world turns its attention to the Olympic Games once again, the stories that resonate most are often not just about podium finishes, but about perseverance, perspective, and passion passed from one generation to the next.
For SEAMO physician Dr. Martin ten Hove, the Olympic spirit is not a fleeting moment over four years. It is a thread that runs through his life, his career, and his family.
Dr. ten Hove represented Canada in sailing at the 1984 Olympic Games, an experience that remains vivid decades later.
“I remember walking into the opening ceremonies alongside the best and most driven athletes in the world,” he recalls. “And realizing how hard it will be to reach the podium.”
It was a humbling moment, and one that underscored what it truly takes to compete on the world’s biggest stage.
Small Gains, Big Impact
Elite sport is often defined by marginal differences, and that lesson has stayed with Dr. ten Hove throughout his career in medicine.
“You achieve excellence through the aggregation of small incremental gains made in every single aspect of your sport,” he says. “I think this applies to individual and team sports, as well as the workplace.”
That mindset, of steady improvement and attention to detail, translates seamlessly to his work in ophthalmology. But sailing, like medicine, also comes with unique challenges.
“Sailing is unique among sports because of the large number of uncontrollable variables present in any given race,” he explains. “Despite doing your best to prepare, perform, and make decisions under pressure, occasionally the uncontrollable variables still lead to a poor result. I think medicine can sometimes be like that. The trick is to hit refresh and get ready for the next race.”
From Olympian to Olympic Parent
While Dr. ten Hove’s own Olympic experience shaped him, watching the Games through the eyes of a parent brought an entirely new perspective.
His daughter, Ali ten Hove, and her fiancé, Justin Barnes, competed in consecutive Olympics (Tokyo and Paris, respectively). Ali then moved on to the America’s Cup in 2024 and today is a member of Canada’s SailGP team.
“It’s a rollercoaster,” he says of watching them compete. “You really feel every moment of elation and disappointment along the way, and there are many of both.”
The pride is unmistakable. So is the friendly family rivalry.
Seeing both Ali and Justin reach the podium at the 2023 Pan American Games stands out as a particular highlight. Dr. ten Hove laughs as he recalls the moment. “I had also won a bronze Pan Am medal 40 years earlier,” he says, “but Ali was quick to point out that hers was silver.”
A Legacy in Motion
For Dr. ten Hove, one of the most striking moments has been witnessing the sheer scale of his daughter’s journey in this sport.
“It is very cool to see your daughter progress from racing in an eight-foot dinghy at age 10,” he says, “to watching TSN to see her team sail a 50-foot, high-adrenaline, foiling machine reaching speeds of 100 kilometres per hour.”
It is a reminder that while the boats may change and the stakes may rise, the passion that fuels elite athletes remains constant.
The Olympic Spirit Today
When asked what the Olympic spirit means to him now, Dr. ten Hove points beyond medals and results.
“I love how the Olympics, if only for a couple of weeks every four years, brings the world closer together,” he says. “I think the aspirations and intense effort of each athlete are contagious.”
It is that sense of shared purpose, resilience, and connection that continues to inspire him, both on and off the water.
And as this Olympic season unfolds, Dr. ten Hove’s story is a powerful reminder that the true legacy of the Games often lives on not just in record books, but around family tables, in quiet lessons learned, and in the next generation setting sail.