Northwestern Ontario has a lot to be proud of when it comes to its history at the summer Olympics

Northwestern Ontario is known for its presence in the world of winter sports, from all-star NHL and PWHL players, to curlers and nordic skiers competing on the world stage. But when it comes to summer sports, particularly at the Olympics, the region has a rich history steeped in success.

In fact, since 1960 northwestern Ontario has been represented at either the summer Olympics or the Paralympics every year, with the exception of just one year.

"When you consider the size of northwestern Ontario, our population base, that's pretty amazing. So lots to be proud of," explained Diane Imrie, the executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The region's first summer Olympian dates back to 1960, when weightlifter Bill Swaluk took to Rome to compete. In the years that followed, northwestern Ontario athletes continued to make names for themselves on the world stage, especially in swimming.

Montreal 1976 was a big year for Canadians at the Games, since competition was happening on home soil. But it was also a big year for northern athletes.

"Thunder Bay was actually sort of designated as a training ground for swimmers. Don Talbot was brought here from Australia to train a lot of swimmers and we ended up with the likes of Joann Baker, Bill Sawchuk, Tom Alexander, Debbie Clarke and Andy Ritchie, all from the Thunderbolts, all from Thunder Bay, competing in Montreal," Imrie said.

Talbot is regarded as one of the greatest coaching minds in history, according to Swim Ontario.

He made his home in Thunder Bay in the 1970s with the Thunderbolts. In 1976, the Thunderbolts sent eight swimmers to the Montreal Olympics.

Among those swimmers, Debbie Clarke helped in the heats for two of Canada's medals.

Moving through the decades, the 1980s and 90s and early 2000s also produced many medals for Paralympic and Olympic athletes who had roots planted in northwestern Ontario.

Some of those athletes include Paralympians Tom Hainey of Atikokan, Ont., and Thunder Bay's Andrea Cole and Robbie Weldon.

Track cyclist Curt Harnett was first introduced to his sport in Thunder Bay, Ont., and would go on to bring home three Olympic medals. The first was a silver medal in the 1,000 meter time trial event at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

"He came back home to wonderful celebrations for that victory. And he went on to three more Olympics and also brought home some medals. So that was pretty exciting," said Imrie, speaking of Harnett's accomplishments.

The support and celebration for athletes is something another former Olympian from Thunder Bay remembers well, especially leading up to his Olympic debut in 1976 when he was just 21.