Toller Cranston

By The Associated Press, The Associated Press

Toller Cranston, a bronze medalist at the 1974 world championships and 1976 Olympics, died at his home in Mexico, Skate Canada said Saturday.

He was 65.

Cranston, a six-time Canadian senior men's champion, was known for his dramatic showmanship on the ice. Cranston was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and grew up in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, and Montreal before settling in Mexico once his skating days were done.

Cranston won national titles from 1971 to '76 and placed second at the 1971 North American championships in Peterborough, Ontario. He won Skate Canada International events in 1973 and '75.

He finished fourth at the 1975 world championships in Colorado Springs, and was fourth again a year later in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Cranston was 26 when he reached the Olympic podium at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria.

He was later inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1977.

He was also an avid artist and his work was exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. In 1995, he received a Special Olympic Order from the Canadian Olympic Committee. Cranston was also an illustrator, author, designer, choreographer and sports commentator.