Nancy Greene Widely regarded as Canada's top female athlete of the 20th century, Greene was a trailblazer for female Canadian athletes. Christine Sinclair Hometown: Burnaby, B.C. He gradually gave up politics but still had significant influence. He also led the 4 x 100m relay team to a gold medal in the same Olympics. Gretzkys 1,963 assists in the NHL are greater than anyone elses points totals, although Jaromir Jagr might have something to say about that before he hangs up the skates. Post-retirement, he has been working as a power skating coach. Born in Montral in 1786, he grew up at his familys estate and studied law. He won three Welterweight Championships between 2006 and 2008 and was listed as the number one welterweight in the world for several years. Her six career medals ties her with speed skating teammate Cindy Klassen as Canada's most-decorated Olympian. Her fierce stance against drug cheats earned her respect from athletes worldwide, but also the ire of the suits in the room. He was the inspiration for the 1998 movie My Giant. The face of womens Canadian soccer and likely the greatest Canadian soccer player ever. Jessica Biel (born 1982), American actress with distant French roots. For a time, Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey held the record as the fastest man in the world. In 2001, he became part of NBAs San Antonio Spurs team as a pointguard and went on to become a 4-time NBA champion. Born in Montral in 1786, he grew up at his family's estate and studied law. While he started his training in ice hockey at age 5, he later switched to figure skating. During this time, she also championed human rights while serving on various federal councils and founded several associations that worked for the welfare of women. In honor of Canada Day, here are the 25 greatest Canadians of all time: 26. Penny Oleksiak impressed the entire country with her four medals in last summers Summer games, but it doesnt compare to Cindy Klassens performance at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. She died in 1981, leaving a powerful legacy of championing the rights of women and the underprivileged. 35 Famous People From Canada | Glamour On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When it comes to sports in which Canadians are underrepresented, being the first goes a long way. Cartier persuaded French Canadians that this type of union would be more sympathetic to the French Catholic cause than an alliance with the United States. Without a doubt, Canadas greatest basketball player. 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. Zidane, popularly called Zizou by his adoring fans, is one of the eight players to have won the World Cup, the Ballon dOr, and the Champions League. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. This International Women's Day, let's celebrate some of Canada's female heroes of the past and not-so distant past. We kicked off our series of Canada 150 articles last week with Canadas 15 best ski resorts. Shes considered one of the best female soccer players of all time and has 296 appearances and 186 goals for Canada. Born in Montral in 1896, Casgrain was the daughter of businessman and politician Sir Rodolphe Forget and Lady Blanche MacDonald. In 1996, Tom Longboat was honored posthumously with an induction into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. At her first Olympics at London 2012, George made the 100 hurdles final, finishing sixth. Famous Female Athletes from Canada | List of Canada Female - Ranker Canada 150: The 15 greatest Canadian athletes - KelownaNow He campaigned for greater independence for Lower Canada, which was dominated by an influential British minority. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Aside from the Masters, Weir had seven other PGA Tour victories between 1999 and 2007. 7 Most Famous French Athletes Of All Time - Journey To France France is most noted for its amazing breads, cheeses, and wines; art, architecture, and fashion; and of course, its fabulous destinations. Donovan Bailey Hometown: Manchester, Jamaica (immigrated to Oakville, Ontario). The grandson of Patriote Louis-Joseph Papineau, Bourassa was an independent thinker who became a political model for his generation and the next. Elected in the Montral suburb of Verchres, he became co-premier of the unified Province of Canada along with John A. Macdonald. 7 Curling. 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. This week its the top 15 athletes in Canadas decorated sports history. 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. She became a member of the Socit Notre-Dame de Montral and obtained funding from benefactor Anglique Bullion to establish a hospital on the island of Montral. His career with the Phoenix Suns was outstanding and saw him awarded as NBAs MVP twice. Widely regarded as Canadas top female athlete of the 20th century, Greene was a trailblazer for female Canadian athletes. Velma Springstead was a Canadian athlete best remembered for winning a gold medal at the 1925 Canadian Track and Field Championships in Halifax. Canada's national men's soccer team leaves much to be desired and are currently ranked 78th in the world. He spent five years inside the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings, sandwiched around his historic Masters win in 2003. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 110m hurdles event at the 1992 Olympic Games. Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. Despite the poor showing of Canadian teams during this past hockey season, right now is a pretty exciting time for Canadian athletes. Two different events. Ren Lacoste had fared well in his athletics career as well. 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). 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. Mike Weir was one of the first Canadians to achieve success at the highest level in golf. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. He won gold twice at the 1996 games and was the record-holder for the 100m sprint. Ron Turcotte is a Canadian former race horse jockey. Canadian athlete Earl Thomson, or Tommy Thomson, scripted history as the first non-American to win a 110m hurdles Olympic gold medal. Some that come to mind are Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James, the late freestyle skiing legend Sarah Burke, superb athlete and sports administrator Abby Hoffman and others. Steve Nashs stature may not immediately make you regard him as an amazing basketball player, but you know what they say about judging books by their covers. The Greatest Canadian Athletes She is currently captaining the national team and the NWSL club Portland Thorns FC. She became a dual-season Olympian at PyeongChang 2018 when she won bronze with Kaillie Humphries in bobsleigh. 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. The following is a list of Canadian sports personalities. 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. Its always an inspiring sight to see a Canadian with that gold medal around their neck. Stefanie Reid is a track and field para athlete. updated July 10, 2021, 1:15 am, by updated March 31, 2019, 10:41 am, by Longos professional racing career started in 1979. Canadians have never been the strongest contenders in the summer Olympics, but for an entire generation of Canadian children, Donovan Bailey represented the height of Canadian pride. 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. She retired after 2012 London Games after finishing fifth in the time trial. He also won a gold medal at the 1930 British Empire Games in Hamilton. A long-time member of the Canadian national team, Sinclair currently has the 2nd most international goals in female soccer history. 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. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. 30 Famous Francophones | The Canadian Encyclopedia 6 Cross-country skiing. Now in his 3rd NBA season, Wiggins is a rising star in the NBA thanks to his athleticism and skill. What else needs to be said? Stefanie Reid has also won a gold medal at the 2014 European Championships and 2017 World Championships. Two-time Olympic medalist Canadian sprinter Aaron Brown has also been a World Champion in 2022. Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov showed the world that Canadians can play tennis as well as the rest of them. 50.97, Ethel Smith is the most famous Canadian Athlete. For instance, though there have been several notable Canadian baseball players, Fergie Jenkins was the first Canadian to win the Cy Young Award. Famous Faces - Canada's History Alexandre Lippmann, French fencer (pe), Olympic champion. In the 2020 Olympics, Sinclair helped her team win the gold medal. You probably think of hockey and a variety of other winter sports, anything that requires snow and ice. Wickenheiser was a member of the Canadian national team for 23 years, leading the team to four gold medals and a silver medal in Nagano when she was just 19. Take a trip to Montreal with this audiowalk to learn about the citys history. Post-retirement, she worked as a sports columnist and coach. She sings in both French and English, layering beautiful vocal hooks and incredible musical arrangements into one awesome package. Initially, Hughes won two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. You dont earn a name like The Great One without being something special. By the 1960s, his idea of a bicultural Canada had made its way to Parliament, where it was promoted by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. 9 Freestyle skiing. He owned the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. List of fencers - Wikipedia She followed those medals up with four medals over the span of three Winter Games in speedskating. She's the only female Paralympian to win the Lou Marsh Award as the top athlete in Canada (2008). 1. You could debate about which male hockey player on this list is the best, but theres not much doubt that Hayley Wickenheiser is the greatest female hockey player in history. 2021 all rights reserved, SeasonedPros.ca. Rick Hansen Like Terry Fox, Rick Hansen is often honoured for his courage and strength against adversity, but he's also celebrated as a truly gifted athlete. Steve Nash Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa (immigrated to Regina, Saskatchewan then Victoria, B.C.). 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. He was also the creator of the first steel tennis racket and the tennis ball machine. 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. The Haitian-born athlete had moved to Canada as a child. She joined the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) athlete committee in 2005 and in 2012 was appointed to their executive committee. But she got her first Olympic start in Vancouver 2010 in alpine skiing. The Hub is brought to you by Boomerswork.com where we put your experience to work. Overall, Wickenheiser's played in six Olympic Games. Moyse - the best pusher in the world - was a team-sport star from PEI and member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Here are the top 10 greatest celebrated Canadian athletes of all time; 1. Cecil Smith, her sister Maude "Jim" Smith, and Constance Wilson competed for Canada in figure skating at the 1928 . 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. Mark McKoy is a Canadian former track and field athlete. 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. She was a downhill skier before switching to cycling at the urging of her coach, Patrice Ciprelli, who later became her husband. 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. 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. He has won two silver medals and three bronze medals in two Olympic Games so far. Eisler also won a gold medal, three silver medals, and two bronze medals at the World Championships between 1985 and 1994. Crosby has been a household name in Canada since he was a young teenager, as he dominated every age group. He won a Grey Cup, a Memorial Cup, two Stanley Cups and even a baseball championship in the International League. Four years later, she made the hurdles final once again and helped the 4x100 relay team to sixth-place finish. She's an advocate for persons with disabilities and has served as Canada's chef de mission for the 2016 Rio Paralympic team and the 2014 Commonwealth Games team. 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. Lemieux is narrowly behind Gretzky for the highest all-time points per game in the NHL and the two Canadians are a half point higher than anyone else on the list. Primarily a speed skater, Hughes also won two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Admitted to the bar in 1835, he fought for the rights of the francophone minority and participated in the rebellions of 183738 alongside the Patriotes, before going into exile in Vermont. Thousands and thousands of girls hit the slopes to be just like Nancy. Donnie Wahlberg. 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. Though they went undefeated (27-0) through FOUR Olympic Games (1924-1936), there were no gold medals to show around their necks. Canadians may remember the iconic image of her skating around the Salt Lake City Oval with a Canada flag in her hand and a black stetson on her head. They made little Inuvik a hotbed of ski talent. 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. The title of Worlds Greatest Athlete has often been reserved for the best decathlete in the world, as the sport requires all-around ability in a variety of running, throwing, and jumping events. Nicknamed Tiger (well before the golfer! He also has bronze medals from the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2013 World Championships. 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. In Brazil, she competed in track cycling where she collected her first-ever podium finish, a bronze in the team pursuit. Though Browning never won an Olympic medal, he is one of the most successful and popular Canadian figure skaters of all time. Historic Irish neighbourhood is enjoying a renaissance. Sinclair has shown unbelievable skill on the field as well as proven to be a true leader of her team again and again. Famous Canadian Sports Personalities Together, they sang O Canada, tears of joy in their eyes, while nearby stood proud eldest sister Maxime, who finished 12th. 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. Top 10 Canadian Athletes of All Time - Sports Nerd 2 Association football. 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. She'll forever be known as the "fastest woman on ice.". Famous French Americans or Celebrities of French Descent! Together, they left trails of smoke on tracks from Vancouver to Sochi and just about everywhere around the globe. He moved to Montral at the age of ten and entered the College de Montral. He is deemed one of the worlds greatest athletes. Henri Bourassa, born in 1868 in Montral, had a significant impact on Canadian politics through his nationalist position, which still resonates today. When the American Revolution (1775-1783 . 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. You probably don't know these names, but you should. He is also a former Commonwealth Champion and a 2-time World Champion. The first of five hockey players on the list is also the most obvious. Before there was Montral, there was Hochelaga a sixteenth-century agricultural community that mysteriously vanished. Noted for his top speed, he became the first Canadian to legally break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters. MacLennan's second gold was even more remarkable given her battle back from post-concussion syndrome in the lead-up to the Games. The Great One holds almost every NHL record you can think of and helped Edmonton become the City of Champions in the late 1980s. Jenkins wasnt just a talented baseball player either, as he spent a few off-seasons playing for the Harlem Globetrotters. List of French Americans - Wikipedia Perhaps no other name in the history of French sports is more popular today than Lacoste. Hometown: Manchester, Jamaica (immigrated to Oakville, Ontario), Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa (immigrated to Regina, Saskatchewan then Victoria, B.C. 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. Drouin is the reigning Olympic and World Champion in Mens High Jump, as he won gold at the 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympics. Muhammed Ali said Chuvalo was the toughest fighter he ever faced. She won the French road race Championship that same year. 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. Throughout the years, hundreds of Canadian athletes have made their mark on the world of sport and represented Canada at the highest level. Canadian Women At The Olympic Winter Games Let's take a look at Team Canada's dual-season Olympians. Hayley Wickenheiser Hometown: Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. A significant milestone, but even more significant is that hes also the first Canadian to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Lloyd Eisler is a Canadian former pairs skater who won the Olympic bronze medal in 1992 and 1994 along with his partner Isabelle Brasseur. And this weekend Sidney Crosby will be taking his second Stanley Cup home to his Nova Scotia hometown. In 1951, she was elected as the leader of the Qubec wing of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, becoming the first woman to head a Canadian political party. Nicknamed The Big Train, Lionel Conacher might be the least known athlete on this list, despite having a national award named after him. Auto racing is another sport that few Canadians excel at, but Vileneuve certain helped to put our countrys name on the map with the sport. However, France has also produced some of the worlds most famous athletes. Desai Williams also worked as a coach and trained Olympic athletes like Phylicia George, Justyn Warner, and Tremaine Harris among others. Trailblazing Black Canadian Athletes | The Canadian Encyclopedia She retired in January of this year with 168 goals and 211 assists to her name in just 276 career games. 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. Women's basketball didn't become an official Olympic sport until 1976. Harold Ballard was made an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1977 and 1987 respectively. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Mario Lemieux was the first overall draft pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, and he certainly didnt disappoint. George-tienne Cartiers vision of a Canada that combined the British and French nations was the basis for the creation of our modern country. Ben Johnson who held the record of being the fastest man in the world during the 1980s was a Canadian. 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). 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. Clara Hughes Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba. This is all thanks to his world-famous eponymous polo shirt brand with the crocodile logo. She won the first-ever World Cup skiing race in 1967 before winning gold at the 1968 winter Olympic giant slalom event. Andre De Grasse is a Canadian track and field athlete best known for winning the gold medal in the men's 200 metres event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. by Canadian track and field athlete and Paralympian Rick Hansen is a 3-time Paralympic Games champion. Posted on Published: November 16, 2021- Last updated: January 6, 2023. Probably Canadas most famous Paralympic athlete, hes won three golds, two silvers and one bronze between 1980 and 1984. Playing in other North American professional leagues, Former NCAA Division I players awaiting professional play. In 2022, Andre De Grasse won a gold medal at the World Championships. After retiring from tennis in 1932, he became pretty busy with his inventions, filing 20 new patents between the 1960s and 80s. More common known as GSP, Georges St. Pierre was a large factor in turning the UFC from a marginally watched sport into the powerhouse it is today. Three hundred and seventy-five years ago, a small group of French settlers faced unthinkable hardship and danger to establish what would become the great city of Montral. Article Angela Chalmers. Born in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. The famous athlete was nicknamed 'The Big Train'. In the weeks leading up to July 1st, we will be releasing articles on the best Canada has to offer. Gordie Howe Hometown: Floral, Saskatchewan. This whole list could be populated with hockey players, but to add a little variety, Ive chosen to limit their representation on the list. But you could argue Nancy Greene's greatest contribution was inspirational. Famous People From Quebec, Canada & Celebs Born In Quebec Zidane is a Muslim of Algerian-French descent. They were born 15 minutes apart to a traditional hunting and trapping family on the Mackenzie Delta, north of the Arctic Circle. Get exclusive content you wont find in our magazines. She had been threatened with expulsion from the tournament if she continued to miss press obligations. According to the 2016 census,Frenchwas the mother tongue language of 7,166,705 people, or 21 per cent of the Canadian population. At that point, Greene had already won several high-profile events in Canada and The States. However, these did not stop him from becoming one of the greatest athletes France has ever had. Mance quickly established a basic hospital that would later become the Htel-Dieu de Montral. 12 Greatest Canadian Athletes Of All Time - SeasonedPros.ca With millions of followers, he is definitely one of France most famous athletes on social media. As a young man, he excelled in athletics and became a lacrosse player. She has been tireless in advocating for fitness and an active lifestyle and at 76 years old, she's still carving turns. She is currently ranked an impressive 8th in the world at her sport, a position that she will no doubt surpass in the future. Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions. 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. 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. 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.

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