Career
During the 1980s, he dominated international racing in Men"s Individual C-1 (a decked canoe, similar to a kayak). He is the only slalom racer to ever appear on the Wheaties box. He revolutionized the sport while producing innovations in paddling technique and boat design.
Jon started canoeing in the 1970s in the Washington, District of Columbia area.
He often trained daily in his C-1 using slalom gates set up on a feeder canal next to the Potomac River near Great Falls. During the winter, Jon and his fellow paddlers also trained in the David Taylor Model Basin.
He and some other fellow racers (notably David Hearn) developed new designs of low volume decked canoes, using nylon, kevlar and fiberglass cloths mixed with epoxy resin. In 1985 at Augsburg (then in West Germany), Lugbill had to settle for the silver medal after David Hearn bested him for the gold.
During the peak of Lugbill"s career, whitewater canoeing was not included on the competition program of the Summer Olympic Games.
His only appearance on the Olympic stage came in 1992, when the sport returned to the Olympics after a 20-year absence. On the man-made course in Louisiana Seu d"Urgell, Spain, Lugbill placed fourth after being assessed for a five-second gate touch penalty at Gate 23 during his first run. Jon Lugbill now serves as the Executive Director of Richmond Sports Backers, and resides in Richmond, Virginia.
He has two daughters, Kelly and Stephanie.
Jon lived in Archbold, Ohio until he was three years old. Then he moved to Vienna and then Fairfax, Virginia.
He attended Lanier Intermediate School in Fairfax and Oakton High School. He graduated from the University of Virginia.
