Velma Springstead was a Canadian athlete best remembered for winning a gold medal at the 1925 Canadian Track and Field Championships in Halifax. Kim Brunhuber, former CBC anchor Pierre Bruneau, TVA Nathalie Chung, RDI / SRC Bernard Derome, SRC / RDI Simon Durivage, RDI / SRC Cline Galipeau, SRC / RDI Bill Haugland, CTV Jean-Luc Mongrain, TQS, TVA Pascale Nadeau, SRC Mutsumi Takahashi, CTV Sophie Thibault, TVA Todd van der Heyden, CTV Artists and entertainers [ edit] 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. After a spinal cord injury at 15, he became a paraplegic. He has also earned the Best Young Player and French Player of the Year awards for his stellar performances. They were born 15 minutes apart to a traditional hunting and trapping family on the Mackenzie Delta, north of the Arctic Circle. Canada's greatest wheelchair racer of all-time blazes trails wherever her career takes her - as an athlete, advocate or politician. 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. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 110m hurdles event at the 1992 Olympic Games. He has won World Championship gold medals with Canada at both the Junior (2015) and Senior (2016) level. Tony Parkers dad and two siblings also played professional basketball. She's regarded as the greatest women's hockey player of all-time, but at one point, she traded in that hockey stick, helmet & shoulder pads for a bat, ball & glove. Together, they left trails of smoke on tracks from Vancouver to Sochi and just about everywhere around the globe. Brooke has been a top-10 competitor on the LPGA for a couple years now, but she's still just 21 years old. Top 25 Greatest Canadian Wrestlers of All Time - TheSportster It may be shocking to see the likes of Lemieux, Roy and Messier missing but rest assured their talents are not overlooked. Captain Canada himself, Michael Saunders, made it to the MLB All-Star game. Her ski schools were everywhere. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin 22/35 Rachel McAdams This Mean Girl was born in London, Ontario. Mike Weir was one of the first Canadians to achieve success at the highest level in golf. Hughes is known for her athletic achievements as well as her humanitarian work. She returned to her first love of speed skating in 2002, winning medals in three straight Winter Olympics. Georges St Pierre may not be as well known as some of the other athletes on this list, but among combat sports fans, hes a legend. She became a dual-season Olympian at PyeongChang 2018 when she won bronze with Kaillie Humphries in bobsleigh. 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. He continues to inspire countless Canadians after all these years. Widely regarded as Canadas top female athlete of the 20th century, Greene was a trailblazer for female Canadian athletes. With millions of followers, he is definitely one of France most famous athletes on social media. He also won a gold medal at the 1981 Pacific Conference Games and at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. He moved to Montral at the age of ten and entered the College de Montral. Christine Sinclair Hometown: Burnaby, B.C. 4 Biathlon. Although Im from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. Nicknamed Tiger (well before the golfer! They made little Inuvik a hotbed of ski talent. Introducing a few of the many Montralers who became important figures in Canadian history. 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. And that wasn't the end of it. Mark McKoy is a three-time Commonwealth champion, having won gold medals at the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games. He is deemed one of the worlds greatest athletes. In that vein, here are, in my opinion, the five greatest French-speaking skaters and goalies of all time. Ben Johnson also won a gold medal at the 1985 World Indoor Championships. Three-time Olympian Canadian track and field athlete and bobsledder Phylicia George is also an Olympic bronze medalist in the two-woman bobsleigh category. After being elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada, Papineau became the leader of the Parti Canadien, which later became the Patriote party. 6 6. Hi, Im Christine a full-time traveler and career woman. She is an Olympic gold-medalist and 13-time world champion who also competed in track bicycle racing events. Cindy Klassen Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba. Christine Sinclair, one of the best female soccer players ever, comes in at #8 on our list. Like Terry Fox, Rick Hansen is often honoured for his courage and strength against adversity, but hes also celebrated as a truly gifted athlete. Probably Canada's most famous Paralympic athlete, he's won three golds, two silvers and one bronze between 1980 and 1984. 8. The world-famous Andr the Giant died of congestive heart failure in Paris in 1993, after attending his fathers funeral. Widely considered as the greatest all-around player in hockey history, Howe set the bar by playing until age 52, a mark that has never been beat. Lloyd Eisler is a Canadian former pairs skater who won the Olympic bronze medal in 1992 and 1994 along with his partner Isabelle Brasseur. Gordie Howe, or Mr. Longo's professional racing career started in 1979. He retired in 2019, ending his basketball career as the ninth leading post-season scorer in NBA history. Its always an inspiring sight to see a Canadian with that gold medal around their neck. Harold Ballard was a Canadian sportsman and businessman. He also won the 4x100m relay at the 2018 NACAC Championships. He also won the French national championship in the 5000-meter race, thus qualifying him for the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920. 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. Ben Johnson who held the record of being the fastest man in the world during the 1980s was a Canadian. He returned the following year and became more involved in politics, becoming the right-hand man of Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine. He bred and raced Standardbred horses as a hobby. Mark McKoy is a Canadian former track and field athlete. updated December 20, 2017, 7:59 pm, by An MFC middleweight champion, he has also won 3 UFC titles. Oleksiak is a freestyle and butterfly swimmer who won 4 medals (a record for a Canadian athlete at a single Summer Olympics) at the Rio Olympics: gold in the 100m freestyle, silver in the 100m butterfly, and bronze in both the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m freestyle relays. Despite a short career, Owen Hart is one of the greatest Canadian wrestlers of all time. He owned the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. Moyse - the best pusher in the world - was a team-sport star from PEI and member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Stefanie Reid is a track and field para athlete. Mbapp was born to a Cameroonian father and an Algerian mother in Paris. She remains the only athlete to win multiple medals in both the summer and winter Olympics. Similarly to Andre De Grasse, Penny Oleksiak used the 2016 Summer Olympics as a means to catapult herself to the forefront of her sport. Only 22 years old, it looks like De Grasse will be a major player in international sprinting in the future. Let's take a look at Team Canada's dual-season Olympians. 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. As the captain of Canadas hockey team, Philip-Poulin has led her team to two Olympic gold medals plus a silver medal. Greatest French Athletes | Famous Athletes from France | Pantheon Competing in his first Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 200m, and bronze medals in the 100m and 4 x 100m relay. 50.97, Ethel Smith is the most famous Canadian Athlete. At her first Olympics at London 2012, George made the 100 hurdles final, finishing sixth. There are a few incredible young athletes in Canada that have a good chance of making it onto this list by the time their careers are done. Previously, she had won the bronze medal and the silver medal at the 2013 and 2014 World Curling Championships respectively. In 2011, Velma Springstead was posthumously elected as a member of the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame. Top 10 Canadian Athletes Right Now Sidney Crosby - Hockey Penny Oleksiak - Swimming Andre De Grasse - Track and field Milos Raonic - Tennis Damian Warner Derek Drouin - High jumper Brooke Henderson - Golf Christine Sinclair - Soccer Connor McDavid - Hockey Andrew Wiggins - Basketball Eugenie Bouchard - Tennis Clara Hughes Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Haitian-born athlete had moved to Canada as a child. She was a downhill skier before switching to cycling at the urging of her coach, Patrice Ciprelli, who later became her husband. A true family affair. 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. She ran the anchor leg for Jane Bell, Ethel Smith and Myrtle Cook as Canada won gold in the inaugural 4x100-metre relay. Canadian track and field athlete and Paralympian Rick Hansen is a 3-time Paralympic Games champion. With an HPI of . Two different events. Just a few years after Ben Johnson had his Olympic medals stripped due to doping, Donovan Bailey captured the hearts of a nation during the 1996 Atlanta games. Ron Turcotte is a Canadian former race horse jockey. His amazing career is one of the longest in NHL history, and though we sadly lost him earlier this year, hell always remain a huge part of Canadian history. Cecil Smith, her sister Maude "Jim" Smith, and Constance Wilson competed for Canada in figure skating at the 1928 . 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. 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.". She intends to go for gold again with the Stars and Stripes at Beijing 2022. We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Georges St. Pierre Hometown: Montreal, Quebec. Born in a poor neighboorhood in the 15th arrondissement of Marseille, Zidane started playing football at age 5. Ren Lacoste invented this signature polo shirt, but thats not all. 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. The famous athlete was nicknamed 'The Big Train'. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). ), if Nancy Greene pounced, there wasn't much her competition could do about it. Lionel Conacher Hometown: Toronto, Ontario. Throughout his career, he represented Canada at two Olympics, winning two golds and one silver and would later go on to help promote sport in the country. Mario Lemieux -- When looking at the top-five French speaking players of all time, No . He is regarded as one of the worlds finest brakesmen. 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. Here we profile the ultimate fighter for clean sport and a woman who changes the conversation around ability. She had been threatened with expulsion from the tournament if she continued to miss press obligations. 10 Greatest Canadian Athletes of All Time - Discover Walks Blog Eisler also won a gold medal, three silver medals, and two bronze medals at the World Championships between 1985 and 1994. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Christine Sinclair is a Canadian soccer player who plays for the Canadian national team as a forward. A member of the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and Companion of the Order of Canada, she was appointed to the Senate in March 2016. Warner picked up his first Olympic medal, a bronze, at the 2016 Rio Games, and also has silver and bronze medals from the 2015 and 2013 World Championships. 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. Anglo-Jamaican in origin, the sportsperson specializes in 100m and 200m and began his athletic career with the USC Trojans while in college. Basketball runs in the Parker family. Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. Four years later, she made the hurdles final once again and helped the 4x100 relay team to sixth-place finish. Honourable mentions: Marnie McBean and Kathleen Heddle. Historic Irish neighbourhood is enjoying a renaissance. Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions. She retired after 2012 London Games after finishing fifth in the time trial. Ballard also owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. However, the most impressive thing about Oleksiak may be that shes only 16 years of age; more medals and accolades appear to be in her future. Nancy Greene 7. His biography has been translated into 18 different languages. She sings in both French and English, layering beautiful vocal hooks and incredible musical arrangements into one awesome package. The gifted playmaker returned to Phoenix in 2004 where he won back to back NBA MVP Awards. 15 Inspirational Asian Canadians to Know by : Patricia Karounos and Hannah Ziegler - May 25th, 2020 In honour of Asian Heritage Month, we're highlighting Asian-Canadian women and non-binary people for their impact in the realms of culture, fashion, athletics and politics. At that point, Greene had already won several high-profile events in Canada and The States. In PyeongChang 2018, Humphries partnered with sprinter Phylicia George winning a bronze medal. She was also part of the team that won bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. His career with the Phoenix Suns was outstanding and saw him awarded as NBAs MVP twice. She is the first Canadian-born player representing Canada to reach the finals of a Grand Slam in singles. The Canadian Press awards the Lionel Conacher award to the countrys male athlete of the year. Born in Montral in 1786, he grew up at his family's estate and studied law. Canadian Women At The Olympic Winter Games Remembering Notable Canadians We Lost In 2020 - HuffPost Muhammed Ali said Chuvalo was the toughest fighter he ever faced. Also, Crosby is a complete player with few, if any, weaknesses in his game. Trailblazing Black Canadian Athletes | The Canadian Encyclopedia Nicknamed the Man of Bronze, Phil Edwards won five bronze medals for Canada at the Olympic Games between 1928 and 1936. 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