We pack a lot into the pages of every issue of Kayak, but there’s always more great stuff we just can’t fit in. So join Teeka and Beau, our otter mascots, to find out more about the theme of each issue, or just pick up some random bits of Canadian history.
Winter Olympic Heroes from our past
Canada’s Winter Olympic history is rich with stories of achievement, dedication, and courage. Over the next six pages, we take a look at some of the incredible athletes who have brought Winter Olympic glory to our country.
Barbara Ann Scott
Figure Skating
In the late 1940s, Canadian teenager Barbara Ann Scott was the most famous figure skater in the world. Her dazzling routines and international wins made her a sporting sensation.
In 1948, Barbara Ann travelled to St. Moritz, Switzerland, to compete in the Winter Games. She was heavily favoured to claim Olympic gold.
But Barbara Ann and her fellow skaters faced an unexpected challenge at the Games. On the final day of the competition, the Olympic rink was left badly chewed up from an earlier hockey match. This affected many of the skaters, but not Barbara Ann! She skated expertly around the ruts and bumps, delivering a flawless performance… and winning the gold!
To this day, Barbara Ann Scott remains the only Canadian to win a gold medal in singles figure skating.
Barbara Wagner & Robert Paul
Pairs Figure Skating
In early 1960, Barbara Wagner and Robert Paul were the top-ranked figure skating pair in the world. So it seemed certain that they would do well at the Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California.
But during the competition, Barbara and Robert met with some trouble. About one minute into their performance, the music they were skating to skipped and stuttered, throwing off the timing of their entire routine. Rattled, the pair stopped skating and asked for permission to restart. After a few tense minutes, their request was granted.
With great relief, Barbara and Robert began their routine again.
They delivered a perfect performance and easily earned first place.
Barbara and Robert became the first North American figure skating pair to win Olympic gold!
Vic & John Emery, Peter Kirby, Doug Anakin
Bobsleigh
Most people didn’t expect the Canadian bobsled team to do very well at the 1964 Games in Innsbruck, Austria. After all, this was Canada’s first time participating in an Olympic bobsled event. And the team had had limited opportunities to train on an actual course. (Back then there were no bobsled runs in Canada.)
Despite the obstacles, the four-man team of Peter Kirby, Douglas Anakin, and brothers John and Victor Emery were determined to do their best.
It turned out their best was better than the rest!
The team set a record time in their first run, then went on to win Canada’s first gold in bobsledding!
This amazing victory helped pave the way for the development of a national bobsledding program.
Nancy Greene
Alpine Skiing
In the late 1960s, Nancy Greene was one of Canada’s fastest alpine skiers. She was considered a major medal contender in women’s alpine skiing at the 1968 Games in Grenoble, France.
After placing a disappointing 10th in the downhill, Nancy went on to claim a silver medal in the slalom. But it was during the giant slalom that she really shone. She finished that race an astonishing 2.64 seconds faster than the next fastest skier. This victory margin was unheard of!
Nancy was so fast that the official Olympic clocks were still counting after she finished her run. As a result, there was a delay in displaying her time. When it was finally posted, Nancy and the rest of Canada rejoiced. She had won the gold!
Steve Podborski
Alpine Skiing
Steve Podborski was the youngest member of the Crazy Canucks — Canada’s national downhill ski squad. In the late 1970s, the Crazy Canucks caught the world’s attention with their super-fast, super-daring racing style.
In 1980, all eyes were on Steve and the other Canucks as they headed to the Winter Games at Lake Placid, US. Up until that time, European skiers had dominated the men’s downhill skiing events at the Olympics. But hopes were high that at least one member of the Crazy Canucks would change this.
That member turned out to be Steve! He skied an incredible race and captured the bronze. This made him the first North American man ever to win an Olympic medal for downhill skiing.
Gaetan Boucher
Speed Skating
When Gaétan Boucher was a kid, he signed up for speed skating lessons to improve his hockey skills. But it was his speed skating skills that kept improving! By the time he was 17 years old, he was a member of Canada’s national speed skating team.
In 1980, Gaétan won his first Olympic speed skating medal — a silver in the 1000m event. He hoped to do even better at the 1984 Games in Sarajevo. But less than a year before those Games, Gaétan shattered his ankle while training.
Despite this terrible injury, Gaétan was determined to compete. Amazingly, he made it to the Games… and won three more Olympic medals! He took the bronze in the 500m, and gold in the 1000m and 1500m!
Colette Bourgonje
Cross-Country Skiing
In 1980, Colette Bourgonje was in a terrible accident that left her in a wheelchair. She didn’t let that prevent her from becoming a world-class racer.
Over the period of 1992 to 2006, Colette competed in five Paralympic Winter Games. (The Paralympics are games for elite athletes with a disability. They are held in the same year as the Olympics.) Racing in various cross-country sit-ski events, she racked up an impressive medal count — two silver and two bronze.
But Colette’s Paralympic achievements don’t stop there. She also competed in three Summer Paralympic Games, winning another four medals — this time four bronze in wheelchair racing.
Today, Colette remains one of Canada’s most decorated Paralympians.
Sandra Schmirler
Curling
Sandra Schmirler’s nickname was “Schmirler the Curler.” Throughout the 1990s, she was the leader of one of the best women’s curling teams in the world.
In early 1998, Sandra’s team was set to represent Canada in curling at the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. This was the first time that women's curling would be included as an Olympic medal sport.
The “Schmirler Squad” made it to the Olympic playoffs in first place, but things got dicey in the semifinals. The Canadians nearly lost to the strong British team… until Sandra delivered a final shot that won the match. The Canadians moved on to the finals and easily defeated the Denmark team.
With great pride, Sandra and her team claimed the first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s curling!
Beckie Scott
Cross-Country Skiing
Beckie Scott was the first athlete ever to be awarded bronze, silver, and gold for the same Olympic event, from the same Games. How did it happen?
At the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, US, Beckie claimed bronze in the cross-country skiing 5km pursuit event. It was the first Olympic medal ever won by a Canadian cross-country skier.
Shortly after Beckie’s medal-winning race, it was discovered that the two women who had finished ahead of her had used performance-enhancing drugs. After many investigations and hearings, both athletes were eventually stripped of their medals. As a result, Beckie was initially given the silver medal, and then the gold!
Beckie went on to win a silver medal at the 2006 Games in Turin, Italy.
Duff Gibson
Skeleton
Duff Gibson’s path to the Winter Games was as curvy as a skeleton track. From the time he was a kid, he knew he wanted to compete in the Olympics. But it took him over two decades to find the right sport.
At the age of 33, he finally settled on skeleton racing and started training hard. He was soon competing professionally. He made it to the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City and finished in 10th place.
But his Olympic dream didn’t end there. Duff competed again at the 2006 Games in Turin. And this time, the 39-year-old athlete rocketed his way to gold. With that outstanding win, Duff became the oldest individual gold medalist in the history of the Winter Olympics!
Cindy Klassen
Speed Skating
Cindy Klassen didn’t begin training seriously in speed skating until the late 1990s. But by 2002, the gifted skater was ready for the Salt Lake City Games. She did very well, winning a bronze medal in the 3000m event and placing fourth in the 1500m and 5000m events.
Four years later, at the 2006 Games in Turin, Cindy did even better! She won FIVE medals: one gold (in the 1500m), two silvers (in the 1000m and team pursuit) and two bronze (in the 3000m and 5000m). Her performance was so impressive that she was named “the woman of the Games.”
Today, Cindy Klassen remains the most decorated Canadian Olympian of all time.
This article originally appear in Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids in December/January 2009/2010.
Photo credits in order of appearance: AP/CP Photo, STRCO/CP Photo/COC, Getty Images, AP/CP Photo, TRCO/CP Photo/COC, CP Photo/COC/O. Beirwagon, AP Photo/CP Photo/Giovanni Auletta, CP Photo/COC, AP Photo/CP Photo/Luca Bruno, CP Photo/Frank Gunn, CP Photo/Paul Chiasson.