Robert Esmie

Robert Esmie (born July 5, 1972) was a Canadian sprinter and member of the 1996 Summer Olympics Gold medal 4x100 m relay.

Born in Jamaica and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Esmie, Glenroy Gilbert, Bruny Surin and Donovan Bailey were the nucleus of a formidable 4x100 m relay team in the mid-1990s.

Esmie placed seventh (10.23) in the second semi-final of the 100m and won a bronze medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1993 World Championships. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Esmie was a member of the gold medal team in the 4x100 m relay.

Esmie won a bronze medal in the 60 m at the 1995 World Indoor Championships and was again a member of gold medal winning Canadian 4x100 m relay team at the 1995 World Championships.

At the Atlanta Olympics the Canadian mens 4x100 relay team was not favoured despite winning most high profile titles in the previous three years. However at the Olympics 4x100 m relay final the Canadian team beat United States by almost a half second to establish itself as the best 4x100 relay team in 1996. Esmie was not originally slated to run with the relay team in Atlanta, but replaced Carlton Chambers the night before the race.

Esmie and the Canadian team won a gold medal again at the 1997 World Championships.

In 2008 he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 1996 Summer Olympics 4x100 relay team.