Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Ron Turcotte is a Canadian former race horse jockey. Desai Williams also worked as a coach and trained Olympic athletes like Phylicia George, Justyn Warner, and Tremaine Harris among others. French is also the first official language spoken by 22 per cent of the Canadian population. Nancy Greene 7. Together, they left trails of smoke on tracks from Vancouver to Sochi and just about everywhere around the globe. Arianne Moffatt, from Quebec City, is a multi-talented singer that is undefinable by any genre standards. Basketball runs in the Parker family. A cyclist and a speed skater, she set records for not only Canadians, but athletes from all over the world. She became a dual-season Olympian at PyeongChang 2018 when she won bronze with Kaillie Humphries in bobsleigh. 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. In the 1920s, she helped found the Provincial Franchise Committee for Womens Suffrage and began fighting for the right for women to vote provincially in Qubec a battle that would last more than two decades before victory was achieved. Mance, Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, and the rest of the contingent left La Rochelle, France, on two vessels in May 1641. 7 Curling. Moyse - the best pusher in the world - was a team-sport star from PEI and member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. He continues to inspire countless Canadians after all these years. Gretzky played twenty seasons in the NHL between 1979 and 1999, and despite being retired for more than twenty years, he still holds just about every offensive record there is. With an HPI of . Name just about any hockey record and youll see that the legendary 99 holds it firmly. . He won a gold medal at the 1934 British Empire Games in London, where he represented British Guiana. He owned the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. At that point, Greene had already won several high-profile events in Canada and The States. In span of his career, he had 10 grand slams to boot, 24 career titles, and was at No. 3 Badminton. You can help make our past relevant, engaging, empowering and accessible. 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. Hes a 23-time NHL All-Star and held a number of hockeys scoring records until Wayne Gretzky broke them in the 1980s. She won the French road race Championship that same year. According to the 2016 census,Frenchwas the mother tongue language of 7,166,705 people, or 21 per cent of the Canadian population. By the Sapporo Olympics of 1972, seven of Canada's nine nordic skiers were from the Mackenzie Delta. Born in Montral in 1896, Casgrain was the daughter of businessman and politician Sir Rodolphe Forget and Lady Blanche MacDonald. Canada men's national junior ice hockey team, List of members of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, "Buzz builds over Burlington hoops phenom Simisola Shittu", "Negro Scores Win Before 5,000 Fans; Berger is Victor", "Jewish youngster opens Toronto tennis center", Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association, Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Canadian_sports_personalities&oldid=1141790586, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Alison Hart, daughter of Stu and Helen married Canadian wrestler, Brooke B. Hart, daughter of Alison Hart and Ben Bassarab married, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 20:36. Birthplace: Bruges, Belgium; raised in France. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. They learned the sport from a French priest on borrowed skis from a U.S. Army base and eventually a small nordic team was formed. Nash retired with the highest free throw percentage in NBA history at 90.42%. She is currently ranked an impressive 8th in the world at her sport, a position that she will no doubt surpass in the future. Quite eerily, MacLennan is coming back from another injury (a broken ankle) as she prepares to defend her Olympic crown a THIRD time, this time in Tokyo. Klassen also won a bronze medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, tying her with Clara Hughes for the Canadian record of six total medals at the Olympics. Lou Marsh also worked for the Toronto Star for more than four decades and is often counted among the pioneers of sports journalism in the country. Andr the Giant also became a Hollywood actor, debuting as Sasquatch (Bigfoot) in 1976 in a two-part episode aired on the TV series The Six Million Dollar Man. He delivered many speeches calling for Canadas complete independence, going so far as to oppose the Dominions involvement in the First World War. Gordie Howe, or Mr. Oendrila De 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. Let's take an appreciation for how difficult it is to OWN your sport for back-to-back Olympics. At her first Olympics at London 2012, George made the 100 hurdles final, finishing sixth. Perhaps no other name in the history of French sports is more popular today than Lacoste. The famous athlete was nicknamed 'The Big Train'. He gradually gave up politics but still had significant influence. In total, Canada's women's track and field team won two gold, two silver and a bronze and earned the nickname: The Matchless Six. Let's take a look at Team Canada's dual-season Olympians. From 1915 to 1940, the Edmonton Grads won 502 games and lost only 20, beating the world's best teams from the United States and Europe. She followed those medals up with four medals over the span of three Winter Games in speedskating. Though Browning never won an Olympic medal, he is one of the most successful and popular Canadian figure skaters of all time. His best-known role was Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride in 1987. He also won a gold medal at the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton. Despite having just one MLB team, Canada has produced some talented baseball players over the years, but none compare to Fergie Jenkins. He retired in 2019, ending his basketball career as the ninth leading post-season scorer in NBA history. He once held the world record for the 100 meters and is considered the greatest Canadian sprinter of all time. From the ice to the hardcourt, theres not much doubt about who Canadas greatest basketball player is. Similarly to Wiggins, Connor McDavid is a young superstar taking his sport by storm. He later coached the US Naval Academy team and also co-designed a safer hurdle. Copyright 2023 by AncoraThemes. More than any other player, Howe played the whole game. He is the youngest French player to score at a World Cup, and the second teenager, next to Pel, to score in a World Cup Final. There are parks and lakes and mountain peaks and streets and buildings named after her. Clara Hughes Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba. Post-retirement, she worked as a sports columnist and coach. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. Brooke Henderson. Sharon Firth said: "The world was so fascinated by us skinny indian girls and boys and how we danced on skis. The face of womens Canadian soccer and likely the greatest Canadian soccer player ever. She remains the only athlete to win multiple medals in both the summer and winter Olympics. Thousands of pieces form Montrals historical patchwork quilt. 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. Hockey has proven that Canada has its fair share of fighters, but not too many of us make a splash in the world of boxing. A native of Smith Falls, Ontario, Henderson also represented Canada at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. He is deemed one of the worlds greatest athletes. Getty/Tim Clayton-Corbis As Insider reported, 23-year-old Osaka, the No. 1. Christine Sinclair Hometown: Burnaby, B.C. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. You dont earn a name like The Great One without being something special. 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. 27 Jul 1996: Donovan Bailey of Canada #1197 defeats Frankie Fredericks of Namibia #1962 and Dennis Mitchell of the USA for the gold medal in th 100m final at the Olympic Stadium at the 1996. Candice Quigley Crosby also won two Olympic gold medals with Canada, including the 2010 final, where he scored a famous golden goal in the finals. His professional athletics career began at the age of 16, winning a Ligue 1 title, Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, and the Golden Boy award. 1 Georges St-Pierre (One of the Greatest Fighters in the History of Mixed Martial Arts) 37 21 Listed In: Sportspersons Birthdate: May 19, 1981 Sun Sign: Taurus Height: 5'10" (178 cm) 2 Glenn Ford (One of the Most Prominent Actors During Hollywood's Golden Age) 70 12 Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities Birthdate: May 1, 1916 Sun Sign: Taurus Lloyd Eisler is a Canadian former pairs skater who won the Olympic bronze medal in 1992 and 1994 along with his partner Isabelle Brasseur. Kurt Browning. Ren Lacoste invented this signature polo shirt, but thats not all. She was a downhill skier before switching to cycling at the urging of her coach, Patrice Ciprelli, who later became her husband. Wickenheiser also represented Canada once in the Summer Olympics as a part of the softball team. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. 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. Shes also Canadas most decorated female athlete, with 24 medals in speed skating. She was 15 when she began training in hurdles. 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. Had it not been for some bizarre and unfortunate Olympic qualifying rules and domestic standards,they would have competed at Tokyo 2020 in the debut of 3-on-3 basketball and been a medal favourite. Vote for Your Favourite Canadian Athletes, (Actor and Athlete Known for His Role as Tonto in the TV Series The Lone Ranger), (Canadian Sprinter Who was the World's Fastest Man During the 1987-88 Season), (Canadian Soccer Player Who Plays as a Forward), (Onondaga Athlete Who Specialized in Distance Running), (Canadian Track and Field Athlete (Paralympic Games)), (Canadian Former Race Horse Jockey Who won the 'US Triple Crown' in 1973), (Former Canadian Figure Skater and 2-Time National Champion), (Canadian Long-Distance Runner and Olympic Silver Medalist), (Canadian Sprinter, Former World Champion, and 2-Time Olympic Medalist), (Canadian Athlete and Winner of the 100 and 200 Metres Races at the 1928 Summer Olympics), (Canadian Athlete and Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist), (Former Canadian Track and Field Athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist), (Canadian Athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, and a Pioneer in Women's Sports), (Canadian Track and Field Athlete, Bobsledder, and Olympic Medalist), (Jamaican-Born Canadian Bobsledder and Olympic Silver Medalist), (Track and Field Athlete Who Specialized in Middle Distance Events), (Canadian Athlete Who Was the First Non-US Olympic Gold Medalist in 100m Hurdles). Steve Nash Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa (immigrated to Regina, Saskatchewan then Victoria, B.C.). Wiggins entered the NBA in 2014 after being chosen first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Entry Draft. Armand Mouyal, French fencer (pe), national champion Claude Netter, French fencer (foil), Olympic champion Christian d'Oriola, French Olympic and World Champion, named "Fencer of the 20th Century" by the FIE, International Fencing Federation, in 2001. Henri Bourassa, born in 1868 in Montral, had a significant impact on Canadian politics through his nationalist position, which still resonates today. Canada does have a strong history of producing great hockey players, skiers, skaters, and athletes who compete in other winter sports. She has been tireless in advocating for fitness and an active lifestyle and at 76 years old, she's still carving turns. Her fierce stance against drug cheats earned her respect from athletes worldwide, but also the ire of the suits in the room. Canada's national women's soccer team, on the other hand, is one of the best in the world and are currently ranked fourth. Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe are two among the most famous ice hockey players the country has seen. Vote for Your Favourite People Born In Quebec, (One of the Greatest Fighters in the History of Mixed Martial Arts), (One of the Most Prominent Actors During Hollywood's Golden Age), (Film Director, Screenwriter, Playwright), (Canadian TV and Film Actor and Voice Actor), (Canadian Artist Who Held a Guinness World Record for His Full-Body Tattoos), (Canadian Voice Actor, Illustrator, Blogger, and Former Animator), (American Designer of Firearms Who Created the 'M1 Garand', a Semi-automatic Rifle), (German Actress, Comedian, Television Presenter, and Voice Actress), (Vlogger and Host of the Popular YouTube Show 'Epic Meal Time'), (Mixed martial artist, Taekwondo athlete), (Canadian Writer, Novelist, Poet, and Playwright). Most people (athletes included) tend to like either the summer or the winter. Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov showed the world that Canadians can play tennis as well as the rest of them. Crosbys dominance has continued since then, as he has captained the Penguins to 2 Stanley Cup championships, won 2 Hart trophies (NHL MVP), 2 Art Ross trophies (NHL scoring title), and a Conn Smythe trophy (playoff MVP). With an HPI of . His skating ability, offensive skill, and great hockey IQ have convinced many people that he will soon be (if he isnt already) the best hockey player in the world. This is all thanks to his world-famous eponymous polo shirt brand with the crocodile logo. Canadian teammate Ethel Catherwood won gold in high jump. Called the greatest hockey player of all time by many and its unlikely hell lose that title anytime soon. Canadian Olympic School Program: Black History Collection. After 1867, Cartier played a key role in bringing Manitoba and British Columbia into Confederation, secured the repatriation of Ruperts Land, and pushed for the building of the transcontinental railway. 6.Jean Collas (1874 - 1928). She was named Canadas Athlete of the Year in 1967 and followed it up with another World Cup title in 1968, as well as a gold and silver medal in the Olympics and another gold medal at the world championships. She won the French road race Championship that same year. No surprise she was voted the top female Canadian athlete of the 20th century. She represented Canada at the 2008 Paralympic Games, where she won a bronze medal. Throughout the years, hundreds of Canadian athletes have made their mark on the world of sport and represented Canada at the highest level. He is best known for his performance in the 1984 Olympic Games, where he won two bronze medals. 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. Anglo-Jamaican in origin, the sportsperson specializes in 100m and 200m and began his athletic career with the USC Trojans while in college. Impressed by Mance and her mission, Peltrie decided to join the group. named GSP the Canadian Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and only Anderson Silva (2,457 days) had a longer title run than GSP (2,204 days). He is regarded as one of the worlds finest brakesmen. Despite the poor showing of Canadian teams during this past hockey season, right now is a pretty exciting time for Canadian athletes. Percy Williams is widely regarded as the greatest Canadian Olympic athlete of all time. READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Kylian Mbapp. Together, they sang O Canada, tears of joy in their eyes, while nearby stood proud eldest sister Maxime, who finished 12th. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 110m hurdles event at the 1992 Olympic Games. He won gold twice at the 1996 games and was the record-holder for the 100m sprint. Not only does Clara Hughes have six Olympic medals to her name, shes one of two athletes since Second World War to win medals in both the Summer and Winter Games. They were born 15 minutes apart to a traditional hunting and trapping family on the Mackenzie Delta, north of the Arctic Circle. Wayne Gretzky-ice hockey player. Nancy Greene Widely regarded as Canada's top female athlete of the 20th century, Greene was a trailblazer for female Canadian athletes. Donovan Bailey Nancy Greene, nicknamed Tiger for her aggressive style of skiing, is one of the most decorated alpine skiers in Canadian history. Milos Raonic, a tennis player, was born in the former Yugoslavia, but moved with his family to Canada when he was 3 years old. (Photo: National Archives Bookstore.) She returned to her first love of speed skating in 2002, winning medals in three straight Winter Olympics. Her biography has been translated into 23 different languages on wikipedia. 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. Is it better for French-speaking and English-speaking friends to go to school together, or to have a chance to learn in their own language? Sidney Crosby no doubt deserves this ranking, given he has been at the top of his sport for the last decade, achieving great success both professionally with the NHLs Pittsburgh Penguins, and internationally as a member of Team Canada.