They became just the third trio of sisters to compete in the same individual event at the Winter Games. Sinclair has shown unbelievable skill on the field as well as proven to be a true leader of her team again and again. A native of Smith Falls, Ontario, Henderson also represented Canada at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. She won bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City games, a gold and silver in the 2006 Turin games and another bronze on home soil at the 2010 Vancouver games. . Ethel May Smith (July 5, 1907 - December 31, 1979) was a sprinter from Canada who won two medals at the Amsterdam 1928 Summer Olympics: a bronze medal in the 100 m, and a gold team medal in the 4 100 m relay. Nash retired with the highest free throw percentage in NBA history at 90.42%. Gordie Howe, or Mr. MacLennan's second gold was even more remarkable given her battle back from post-concussion syndrome in the lead-up to the Games. In 2019, The Sports Network named Rachel Homan the fourth-greatest Canadian female curler of all time. The poorly organized revolt was quickly suppressed, and Papineau went into exile. Percy Williams was a Canadian athlete best remembered for winning two gold medals at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Also, Crosby is a complete player with few, if any, weaknesses in his game. The following is a list of Canadian sports personalities. In the early 2000s, he spent the majority of his time in the top ten rankings and brought a major golf title to Canada for the first time ever when he won the Masters in 2003. Christian via wrestlingrumors.net Christian was pigeonholed for the longest time as a "tag team specialist" and for the most part he was exactly that early on in his career. Fanny "Bobbie" Rosenfeld was the premiere sprinter of the Games. While he has yet to win a Grand Slam tournament, he did reach his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2016, and reached the semi-finals at both the 2016 Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2014. Probably Canada's most famous Paralympic athlete, he's won three golds, two silvers and one bronze between 1980 and 1984. Orr won eight consecutive Norris Trophies as the NHLs best defenseman and three consecutive Hart Trophies as the leagues MVP. Birthplace: Bruges, Belgium; raised in France. Not the athlete with the most titles under his belt or the most trophies to show off, but rather Fox is remembered as a great Canadian athlete due to his amazing bravery in the face of something terrifying. Simmerling made history at Rio 2016 by becoming the first Canadian athlete to compete in three different sports in three different Olympic Games. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. She was a downhill skier before switching to cycling at the urging of her coach, Patrice Ciprelli, who later became her husband. Great achievements in Canadian sports are recognized by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Phil Edwards was a Guyanese-born Canadian track and field athlete who specialized in middle-distance events. He followed that up with a pair of gold medals at the 2015 Pan American Games in the 100m and 200m, and bronze medals at the 2015 World Championships in the 100m and 4 x 100m relay. While he started his training in ice hockey at age 5, he later switched to figure skating. Her biggest win so far in her career is a victory at the 2016 KPMG Womens PGA Championship. When they were six, their whole community was up and moved to Inuvik. When you have those kinds of stats, you can find yourself on a Google Doodle or in a Heritage Minute. Nicknamed The Big Train, Lionel Conacher might be the least known athlete on this list, despite having a national award named after him. Weve made a list of some of the most influential, and while its impossible to rank the best of the best, were sure youll agree that each of the athletes on this list has had a big impact on sports in Canada. But not all of us are George Chuvalo. To celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2015, The Canadian Encyclopedia created 30 lists of 30 things that make us proud to be Canadian, from famous people and historic events, to iconic foods and influential artists. Conacher succeeded in a number of sports including football, hockey, baseball, lacrosse, boxing and wrestling. Desai Williams was a Canadian sprinter best remembered for winning a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. One of the most beautiful and glamorous female tennis player, Genie Bouchard may not be ranked amongst top 10greatest Canadian athletes right now, but she deserve the honorable spot here. With millions of followers, he is definitely one of France most famous athletes on social media. Between Shirley and Sharon, they won 48 Canadian championships. As the captain of Canadas hockey team, Philip-Poulin has led her team to two Olympic gold medals plus a silver medal. Fiction Feature: Its Manitoba in 1888. Most people (athletes included) tend to like either the summer or the winter. In his early days, he excelled in high jump and discus throw, too. He is best known for his performance in the 1984 Olympic Games, where he won two bronze medals. She had been threatened with expulsion from the tournament if she continued to miss press obligations. She retired after 2012 London Games after finishing fifth in the time trial. Guillemot held world records in 2,000 meters and 3,000 meters. Discover a wealth of interesting, entertaining and informative stories in each issue, delivered to you six times per year. 19 year old Brooke Henderson is a rising star on the LPGA tour, having already won 3 tournaments (including 1 Major) at the LPGA level. The first Canadian-born athlete to hold an official world track record, three-time Olympian Harry Jerome broke the Canadian record in the 220-yard dash when he was only 18 years old. 4 Biathlon. She moved on to ski cross in Sochi 2014 and was predicted to be in the medal hunt at PyeongChang 2018 until she broke both legs in a World Cup event just before the Games. He has won two silver medals and three bronze medals in two Olympic Games so far. Canadian athlete Earl Thomson, or Tommy Thomson, scripted history as the first non-American to win a 110m hurdles Olympic gold medal. He owned the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. Crosby also won two Olympic gold medals with Canada, including the 2010 final, where he scored a famous golden goal in the finals. Scott resigned WADA's compliance and review committee in 2018 over the reinstatement of Russia's anti-doping agency. Gold at home in Vancouver 2010 and a repeat four years later in Russia. He was the inspiration for the 1998 movie My Giant. With an HPI of . His biography has been translated into 18 different languages. Mark McKoy is a three-time Commonwealth champion, having won gold medals at the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games. It's incredible how many setbacks the Firths endured - illness, the death of their mother - but they always kept fighting through. Throughout the years, hundreds of Canadian athletes have made their mark on the world of sport and represented Canada at the highest level. Raonic is undoubtedly the best Canadian mens tennis player today, evidenced by the fact he has been named Tennis Canadas male player of the year every year since 2011. 10 Ice hockey. Our focus was to represent aboriginal people on the world stage in sport and I think that's what we did.". He retired in 2019, ending his basketball career as the ninth leading post-season scorer in NBA history. Whether it was her dominant gold medal victory in the giant slalom at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics (she won by a whopping 2.68 seconds!) After being elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada, Papineau became the leader of the Parti Canadien, which later became the Patriote party. In the weeks leading up to July 1st, we will be releasing articles on the best Canada has to offer. Sinclair has won the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award an outstanding 12 times in her career and is a 6 time nominee of FIFAs World Player of the Year award. For a time, Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey held the record as the fastest man in the world. She was also part of the team that won bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. She won the French road race Championship that same year. 2016 may have been an even better year for De Grasse. Jeannie Longo's athletic career began in her hometown in the French Alps. The face of womens Canadian soccer and likely the greatest Canadian soccer player ever. She's the only female Paralympian to win the Lou Marsh Award as the top athlete in Canada (2008). bizarre and unfortunate Olympic qualifying rules and domestic standards, She later stepped down as head of the WADA athlete's committee, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. Nicknamed the bulldog of Britannia, Longboat also served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a soldier during the First World War. He moved to Montral at the age of ten and entered the College de Montral. The list is made up from athletes whose skills are undeniable, as well as their place within their respective sport and their representation of Canada. All rights reserved. 7 Curling. Henri Bourassa, born in 1868 in Montral, had a significant impact on Canadian politics through his nationalist position, which still resonates today. Born in Montral in 1896, Casgrain was the daughter of businessman and politician Sir Rodolphe Forget and Lady Blanche MacDonald. He transformed from a moderate politician to a radical, openly attacking institutions such as the Legislative Council, whose non-elected members controlled the country. Lou Marsh was a Canadian athlete who participated in a wide variety of sports during his playing career. Access KelownaNow using your Facebook account, or by entering your information below. This is all thanks to his world-famous eponymous polo shirt brand with the crocodile logo. She became a dual-season Olympian at PyeongChang 2018 when she won bronze with Kaillie Humphries in bobsleigh. CBC Sports' Signa Butler celebrates some of Canada's most storied female athletes. Oleksiakss impressive breakthrough performance in Rio earned her the honor of being named Canadas flag bearer for the Olympic Closing Ceremonies, and won her the Lou Marsh award, given annually to the top Canadian athlete of that year. As the first female leader of a political party in Canada, Thrse Casgrain changed the political landscape forever. Probably Canadas most famous Paralympic athlete, hes won three golds, two silvers and one bronze between 1980 and 1984. As for just how good the Grads were, let's leave the final word to Dr. James Naismith, who called them "the finest basketball team that ever stepped out on a floor.". After a spinal cord injury at 15, he became a paraplegic. The 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, women were allowed to compete in track and field for the first time and the Canadian women headed straight to the podium. Competing in his first Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 200m, and bronze medals in the 100m and 4 x 100m relay. While growing up in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, she was quite the fastball player, representing Canada at the world junior championships at one point. Adriana John Moyse - the best pusher in the world - was a team-sport star from PEI and member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Gordie Howe France is most noted for its amazing breads, cheeses, and wines; art, architecture, and fashion; and of course, its fabulous destinations. Given the overwhelming reasons to be proud of our nations athletic output, what better time to look at the all time great athletes Canada hasgiven the sports world. He became famous for his endurance and the way he finished a race with a spectacular burst of speed. updated July 10, 2021, 1:15 am, by If you don't already know these athletes, you should. Comments are welcome while open. While a lot of countries have one, The main event of UFC Vegas 66 will feature a contest between Cannonier and Sean Strickland, two superb fighters. Historic Irish neighbourhood is enjoying a renaissance. Similarly to Andre De Grasse, Penny Oleksiak used the 2016 Summer Olympics as a means to catapult herself to the forefront of her sport. Le May Doan was the first female speed skater to break the 38-second barrier in the 500-metre event and is also the first Canadian to successfully defend a gold medal in the same event at an Olympics. Louis-Joseph Papineau PATRIOTE LEADER AND POLITICIAN Louis-Joseph Papineau had a reputation as a hero and a defender of the rights of French Canadians, but he was also seen as a traitor to the nation and to the Commonwealth. His championship wins and titles are too many to name, but hes won the Indianapolis 500, and the Formula One World Championshiponly the third racer to have done so and the first Canadian to win the Indy 500 and F-1 championships. He defended his world title eight times before coming out of four-year retirement to win the middleweight world title in 2017. Together, they sang O Canada, tears of joy in their eyes, while nearby stood proud eldest sister Maxime, who finished 12th. Nicknamed The Predator, Patrick Ct is a former Canadian boxer and MMA fighter. He won a gold medal at the 1934 British Empire Games in London, where he represented British Guiana. 3 Badminton. Her six career medals ties her with speed skating teammate Cindy Klassen as Canada's most-decorated Olympian. He competed in before making his NHL debut at 18 in 2005. He campaigned for greater independence for Lower Canada, which was dominated by an influential British minority. We kicked off our series of Canada 150 articles last week with Canadas 15 best ski resorts. He won three Welterweight Championships between 2006 and 2008 and was listed as the number one welterweight in the world for several years. What comes to mind when you think of Canada and sports? Ben Johnson also won a gold medal at the 1985 World Indoor Championships. The Somalia-born athlete spent a part of his childhood in Kenya, before moving to Canada at age 11. She's a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, the IIHF Hall of Fame and is currently the Assistant Director of Player Development for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 9 Freestyle skiing. Though they went undefeated (27-0) through FOUR Olympic Games (1924-1936), there were no gold medals to show around their necks. This article originally appeared in the April-May 2017issue ofCanadas History. You probably think of hockey and a variety of other winter sports, anything that requires snow and ice. or back-to-back World Cup overall titles, Greene Raine ruled the slopes and inspired the next generation of ski racers, male and female. Samir Hussein 23/35 Michael Bubl Born in Burnaby, British Columbia, the crooner is one of Canada's most. Ballard also owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. 1. Angela Frances Chalmers, world-class distance runner from Birdtail Sioux First Nation (born 6 September 1963 in Brandon, MB).Chalmers is one of the most accomplished Indigenous athletes in Canada. To celebrate Canadas 150th anniversary, KelownaNow is shining a light on our amazing country. He is the first Jamaican-born athlete to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. Same result champions. He was born on 26th January 1961. Born in Montral in 1786, he grew up at his familys estate and studied law. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 110m hurdles event at the 1992 Olympic Games. Crosby has been a household name in Canada since he was a young teenager, as he dominated every age group. Legendary Canadian female athletes you should know | CBC Sports Loaded. Gretzky is the only NHL player to ever total more than 200 points in a single season, and he didnt just do it once, but four times. Wickenheiser also represented Canada once in the Summer Olympics as a part of the softball team. Name just about any hockey record and youll see that the legendary 99 holds it firmly. ), BC company retracts statement on cocaine production and sale, 5 things you need to know this morning: March 3, 2023, Transportation Safety Board investigating emergency WestJet landing in Kelowna, Kelowna gardeners wont want to miss the annual Seedy Sunday event, Joly and Chinese counterpart confront each other over interference claims, 3 skiers killed in Wednesday's BC avalanche were from Germany. He also won a gold medal at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships. A true family affair. From 1972 to 1984, Shirley and Sharon Firth went to four consecutive Winter Olympics, shaped the sport of cross-country skiing in the north and ignited a conversation around indigenous culture. Drouin is the reigning Olympic and World Champion in Mens High Jump, as he won gold at the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympics. by Clara Hughes has won six Olympic medals and also has an unusual record as being one of the only athletes in the world to have won medals at both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games. Hi, Im Christine a full-time traveler and career woman. He is the eighth of nine children of Alma Elaine Conroy (ne Donnelly), a . A cyclist and a speed skater, she set records for not only Canadians, but athletes from all over the world. Perhaps no other name in the history of French sports is more popular today than Lacoste. His career in athletics started during World War I, winning the national cross-country championships of the French military. Called the greatest hockey player of all time by many and its unlikely hell lose that title anytime soon. At 26 years old, Raonic is in the prime of his career, so look for him to be a major player on the ATP tour in the future. She joined the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) athlete committee in 2005 and in 2012 was appointed to their executive committee. Only in his 20s, Mbapp is regarded as one of the best football players in the world, having already won more trophies than most players do in their entire career. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. In 1970, then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau appointed Casgrain to the Canadian Senate. Donovan Bailey Hometown: Manchester, Jamaica (immigrated to Oakville, Ontario). Here we profile the ultimate fighter for clean sport and a woman who changes the conversation around ability. The Canadian Press awards the Lionel Conacher award to the countrys male athlete of the year. Lemieuxs career was ultimately shortened by injury, a mid-career retirement and even cancer, but number 66 is still considered one of the most talented and influential players to ever play the game. But she got her first Olympic start in Vancouver 2010 in alpine skiing. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Robbed of that Olympic moment, she formed a powerful voice in the boardroom. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. If you liked this article, please share it! 2021 all rights reserved, SeasonedPros.ca. Lionel Conacher Hometown: Toronto, Ontario. Two different events. He also piled up 11 top-10 and four top-5 major finishes in his career. He also won the French national championship in the 5000-meter race, thus qualifying him for the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920. While there are 15 deserving athletes on this list, there are a number of incredible Canadian athletes that didnt make the cut, which wasnt an easy decision. Together, they left trails of smoke on tracks from Vancouver to Sochi and just about everywhere around the globe. Olympic gold medalist Canadian athlete Fanny Bobbie Rosenfeld earned the nickname Bobbie for the bob cut she sported. MacLennan became the first Canadian athlete to defend their title at a Summer Olympic Games, following up her gold-medal performance in trampoline from the 2012 London Olympic Games with another gold in Rio 2016. Post-retirement, she worked as a sports columnist and coach. Once in Qubec City, she met Marie-Madeleine de Chauvigny de la Peltrie, founder of the Ursulines in Qubec. The sport was dominated by Europeans at the time but Greene managed to clench the title, and went on the more glory including Olympic gold. The 20 year old McDavid is currently in his 2nd season with the NHLs Edmonton Oilers, and is the teams captain. He was the first Canadian, and first Cubs pitcher, to win a Cy Young Award as the leagues best pitcher and accumulated over 3,000 strikeouts in his long career. Noted for his top speed, he became the first Canadian to legally break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters. Shes considered one of the best female soccer players of all time and has 296 appearances and 186 goals for Canada. The Ontario native has also represented Canada on the international stage several times, including being a member of the bronze medal winning squad at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship. Just before winning four consecutive Olympic gold medals in hockey, Wickenheiser starred for the softball team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Donald Edmond "Donnie" Wahlberg Jr. was born on August 17, 1969 in Boston, Massachusetts into a family of Swedish (from his paternal grandfather), Irish, and more distant French-Canadian, English, and Scottish, descent. With an HPI of . Full statement, Copyright 2023Canadas History Society | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions, Website designed and developed by ecentricarts.com, Historical Thinking Community of Practice. A 16-year span of dominance! She is currently ranked an impressive 8th in the world at her sport, a position that she will no doubt surpass in the future. updated March 31, 2019, 10:41 am, by Get exclusive content you wont find in our magazines. The Jamaican born, Canadian sprinter won gold in the 100m setting a new world record of 9.84 seconds in the process. Longo's professional racing career started in 1979. From the ice to the hardcourt, theres not much doubt about who Canadas greatest basketball player is. He is best known for his charitable endeavor, Man in Motion World Tour, and is associated with many initiatives to fund spinal cord treatment research. The project was supported by the Governor General Lord Durham but was rejected by London. Melissa Benoist, American actress, of partial French descent through paternal great-grandfather. As an athlete, she won 21 medals at five Paralympic Games from 1992 to 2008, including 14 gold medals, and broke 26 world records along the way. Tony Parkers dad and two siblings also played professional basketball. Their homecoming to Toronto was nuts. This resulted in unrest leading to the Lower Canada Rebellion of 183738. At 7 feet and 4 inches tall, which was a result of acromegaly, Andr Ren Roussimoff was better known by his fitting ring name Andr the Giant., Roussimoff started his wrestling career in 1966, relocating to North America five years later and consequently becoming a mainstay of World Wrestling Federation (then called World Wide Wrestling Federation or WWWF), where he easily became a fan favorite. Article Angela Chalmers. updated August 31, 2017, 8:31 pm, Top 10 Canadian Athletes in The World Right Now, The 10 best women volleyball players in the world, Top 20 Most Famous Female Volleyball Players in the World, Top 10 Best Sports for Girls to Play and Their Benefits, The Top 20 Tallest Soccer Players of All Time, Top 15 Most Bizarre Sports That Actually Exist, 20 Hottest Female Volleyball Players (2023 Updated), 10 Internet Hoaxes Almost Everybody Believed, 10 Camping Pranks That Bring a Lot of Fun Outdoors, Top 10 Crazy Pranks to Pull on Your Brother, 10 Mass Panic Caused By Seemingly Harmless Pranks, Hot Bolivian Women: Meet The 10 Most Beautiful Girl from Bolivia, Top 10 Most Beautiful and Hottest Cambodian Women. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. This list answers the questions, "What famous female athletes are from Canada?" and "Who are the greatest female Canadian athletes?" Sydney Leroux Age: 32 Mary Pierce Age: 48 Carey May Age: 63 Sarah Murphy Age: 35 Helen Upperton Age: 43 Sarah Podorieszach Age: 33