List of Canadian sports personalities
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: Canada's Athletes of the 20th Century
[edit] Alpine Skiing
- Jean-Luc Brassard, freestyle ski - moguls, Olympic Gold Medal - 1994
- The Crazy Canucks, a group of downhill racers who were extraordinarily successful in the 1970s:
- Dave Irwin
- Dave Murray
- Steve Podborski
- Ken Read, the first Canadian male to win on the World Cup circuit
- Nancy Greene, alpine skiing - downhill, Olympic Gold Medal - 1968
- Ann Heggtveit, world and 1960 Winter Olympics ski champion
- Kerrin Lee-Gartner, alpine skiing - downhill, Olympic Gold Medal - 1992
- Lucille Wheeler, alpine world ski champion
[edit] Automobile Racing
- Patrick Carpentier
- Scott Goodyear
- Greg Moore, (1975-1999)
- Paul Tracy CART Champion 2003
- Gilles Villeneuve, (1950-1982)
- Jacques Villeneuve, (born 1971), son of Gilles, Formula 1 World Champion 1997, Indy 500 Winner 1995, CART Champion 1995
- Dennis Grant, SCCA ProSolo Street Modified Champion & Honda Street Champion 2002
- Joe Cheng, SCCA Solo2 A Modified National Champion 1997
- Gary Milligan, SCCA Solo2 A Modified National Champion 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002
- Ron Fellows, 24 Hours of Le Mans GTS class winner
[edit] Baseball
- Reggie Cleveland
- Ferguson Jenkins - MLB Hall of Fame member
- Joseph Lannin - owner of the Boston Red Sox who signed Babe Ruth
- Terry Puhl
- Larry Walker 1997 NL MVP
[edit] current players
- Jason Bay - 2004 NL Rookie of the Year
- Erik Bedard
- Rheal Cormier
- Jesse Crain
- Ryan Dempster
- Éric Gagné - 2003 NL Cy Young Award
- Rich Harden
- Corey Koskie
- Pete Laforest
- Adam Loewen - Baltimore Orioles prospect
- Russell Martin - Los Angeles Dodgers prospect
- Scott Mathieson - Philadelphia Phillies prospect
- Justin Morneau - 2006 American League MVP
- Mike Nickeas - Texas Rangers prospect
- Pete Orr
- Paul Quantrill
- Chris Reitsma
- Matt Stairs
- Adam Stern
- Jeff Zimmerman
[edit] Basketball
Current Players
- Steve Nash 2005, 2006 NBA MVP
- Jamaal Magloire Played in the All-Star Game 2003-04
Retired
- Rick Fox won three NBA Championship rings in 2000, 2001 and 2002 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers
- James Naismith, (1861-1939), Teacher who invented the game of Basketball
- Todd MacCulloch
- Norm Baker Inducted into Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979
- Hank Biasatti Inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.
- Ron Crevier
- Stewart Granger
- Lars Hansen
- Brian Heaney
- Bob Houbregs Inducted into the Basketball Hall of fame on May 5, 1987
- Leo Rautins
- Mike Smrek
- Gino Sovran
- Ernie Vandeweghe
- Bill Wennington won three championships with the Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997 and 1998)
- Jim Zoet
[edit] Biathlon
- Myriam Bédard, (born 1969), Olympic Gold Medal
[edit] Bobsleigh
- Pierre Lueders, Olympic Gold Medal - 1998
- David MacEachern, Olympic Gold Medal - 1998
- Vic Emery, Olympic Gold Medal
[edit] Boxing
- Tommy Burns, (1881-1955), World Heavyweight boxing Champion
- George Chuvalo
- Yvon Durelle
- Willie de Wit
- Lennox Lewis, grew up in Canada, and competed for Canada in the Olympics in 1988, winning a gold medal.
- Eric Lucas, Former WBC world champion (1999-2001) Supermiddleweight.
- Otis Grant, Current WBC Super Middleweight international champion.
- Arturo Gatti, former WBC world Super Lightweight champion.
- Shane Sutcliffe, former Canadian Heavyweight champion, defeated former world champion "Neon" Leon Spinks by 8 round decision in 1994.
[edit] Cricket
[edit] Cross country skiing
- Beckie Scott, Olympic Gold Medal - 2002
[edit] Curling
- Jan Betker
- Kerry Burtnyk
- Mark Dacey
- Randy Ferbey
- Suzanne Gaudet
- Brad Gushue
- Jenn Hanna
- Mike Harris
- Guy Hemmings
- Glenn Howard
- Russ Howard
- Colleen Jones
- Jennifer Jones
- Cathy King
- Shannon Kleibrink
- Kelley Law
- Ed Lukowich
- Kevin Martin
- Jean-Michel Ménard
- Sherry Middaugh
- Wayne Middaugh
- John Morris
- Dave Nedohin
- Scott Patterson
- Ernie Richardson
- Pat Ryan
- Sandra Schmirler, (1963-2000)
- Kelly Scott
- Jeff Stoughton
- Ed Werenich
[edit] Figure Skating
- Kurt Browning
- Toller Cranston
- Brian Orser
- Donald Jackson
- Elizabeth Manley
- Jamie Salé & David Pelletier, pairs, Olympic Gold
- Barbara Ann Scott, Olympic Gold Medal
- Elvis Stojko
- Barbara Wagner & Bob Paul - (pairs)
[edit] Football
- Russ Jackson
- Bronko Nagurski (1908-1990), Chicago Bears legend, member of U.S. Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Teyo Johnson (born 1981), Miami Dolphins Tight End
- Nate Burleson (born 1981), Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver
- Mark Rypien Former NFL quarterback
- Rueben Mayes Former NFL running back
- Normie Kwong
- Tony Gabriel
- Vince Danielson
- Rocky Dipietro
- Dave Sapunjis
- Roger Aldag
- Don Fuell
- Dave Ridgeway
- Ray Elgaard
- Lionel Conacher
- Royal Copeland
- Peter Dalla Riva
- Danny Kepley
- Joe Krol
- Annis Stukus
- Mike Vanderjagt (born 1970), Dallas Cowboys placekicker
- William Zock
[edit] Golf
- Stephen Ames (born in Trinidad and Tobago)
- Al Balding
- Dave Barr winner of 2 PGA Tour events (1981 Quad Cities Open, 1987 Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic)
- Jocelyne Bourassa winner of the 1973 Canadian Women's Open
- Dawn Coe-Jones
- Gail Graham
- Dan Halldorson
- Laurie Kane
- George Knudson
- Jim Nelford
- Moe Norman
- Sandra Post
- Sandy Sommerville
- Mike Weir, (born 1970), winner of the 2003 The Masters Tournament
- Jennifer Wyatt, (born 1965), winner of the 1992 Crestar-Farm Fresh Classic
- Richard "Dick" Zokol
[edit] Horse racing and Equestrian Sports
- Ted Atkinson, Hall of Fame jockey
- Russell Baze (born 1958), Hall of Fame jockey. Currently #2, expected to become the winningest jockey in history in 2006
- Big Ben, world show-jumping champion
- Billyjojimbob - distinguished aged pacer; winner of the Elitlopp
- John Campbell - harness racing driver
- Dance Smartly - Canadian Triple Crown, Breeders' Cup champion
- Jim Day - Olympic equestrian Gold medalist, champion thoroughbred trainer
- Stewart Elliott - thoroughbred racing jockey
- Hervé Filion - harness racing driver
- Sandy Hawley Hall of Fame thoroughbred jockey
- John Hayes (1917-1998), harness racing driver
- Johnny Longden (1907-2003), Hall of Fame jockey
- Nijinsky II, last English Triple Crown winner
- Northern Dancer - Canada's most successful and beloved race horse
- Red Pollard (1909-1981), Seabiscuit's jockey
- Strike Out - harness racing champion
- Ron Turcotte (born 1941), Hall of Fame jockey of Secretariat
- George Woolf (1910-1946), Hall of Fame jockey
[edit] Ice hockey
- Syl Apps
- Jean Beliveau
- Todd Bertuzzi
- Mike Bossy
- Jennifer Botterill
- Ray Bourque (born 1960), 5 time winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy
- Martin Brodeur
- Cassie Campbell
- Don Cherry
- Ron MacLean
- Kelly Hrudey
- Marcel Dionne
- Bill Durnan
- Phil Esposito
- Danny Gallivan, play-by-play announcer
- Bernie Geoffrion, "Boom-Boom", developed the booming slap shot, second player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season
- Danielle Goyette
- Wayne Gretzky (born 1961), "The Great One", holds most NHL scoring records
- George Hainsworth
- Glenn Hall
- Doug Harvey, 7-time winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy
- Jayna Hefford
- Paul Henderson - scored winning goal in 1972 Canada/USSR match
- Foster Hewitt (1902-1985), play-by-play announcer
- Tim Horton
- Bronco Horvath
- Gordie Howe (born 1928), held most NHL scoring records before Gretzky
- Bobby Hull (born 1939), The "Golden Jet" first player in the NHL to ever score more than 50 goals in a season.
- Brett Hull (born 1964), star for several teams, son of Bobby
- Dave Keon
- Red Kelly
- Ted Kennedy
- Guy Lafleur
- Mario Lemieux (born 1965), player/owner Pittsburgh Penguins
- Eric Lindros
- Frank Mahovlich
- Mark Messier (born 1961), starred alongside Gretzky during Edmonton Oilers dynasty
- Jay McClement
- Stan Mikita
- Howie Morenz, voted top athlete of the 1st half of the 20th century
- Bobby Orr (born 1948), considered by many to be the best ever, revolutionized the role of a defenseman becoming the first to win the scoring title (twice).
- Caroline Ouellette
- Bernie Parent
- Cherie Piper
- Jacques Plante (1929-1986), pioneered active defensive play and use of face masks by goalies
- Denis Potvin
- Manon Rheaume (born 1972), first woman to play in a men's professional game
- Maurice Richard (1921-2000), "The Rocket," first player to score 50 goals in a season
- Larry Robinson, Hall of Fame defenseman
- Patrick Roy (born 1965), all-time NHL leader in goalie wins and games played
- Kim Saint-Pierre
- Joe Sakic (born 1969)
- Derek Sanderson
- Serge Savard
- Terry Sawchuk
- Eddie Shore
- Sami Jo Small
- Vicky Sunohara
- Cyclone Taylor, Frederick Taylor
- Hayley Wickenheiser
- Steve Yzerman, (born 1965)
See also: List of retired NHL players, List of current NHL players
[edit] Lacrosse
[edit] Multiple sports
- Clara Hughes, (born 1972), speed skating and cycling medalist in both summer and winter olympics
- Hayley Wickenheiser better known as being one of the, if not the best female ice hockey player in the world, but also has participated for Canada in the olympics in softball.
- Lionel Conacher
[edit] Professional rodeo
- Earl W. Bascom, designer of bareback rigging
- Five Minutes to Midnight, next to Midnight in world fame
- Pete Knight
- Ray Knight, Canada's first rodeo producer, 1902
- Herman Linder
- Hughie Long
- Deloss Lund
- Midnight, the most famous bucking horse in the world
- Tom Three Persons
- Guy Weadick
[edit] Professional wrestling
- Chris Benoit (born 1967)
- Christian Cage (Jason Reso) (born 1973)
- Rene Dupree (Rene Goguen) (born 1983)
- Edge (Adam Copeland) (born 1973)
- Sylvain Grenier
- Bret 'The Hitman' Hart (born 1957)
- Owen Hart (1965-1999)
- Stu Hart (1915-2003), father of Bret and Owen
- Chris Jericho (Chris Irvine) (naturalized citizen; born 1970 in Manhasset, New York, USA)
- Gail Kim (born 1976)
- Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs) (born 1954)
- Lance Storm (Lance Evers) (born 1969)
- Trish Stratus (Patricia Stratigias) (born 1975)
- Val Venis (Sean Morley) (born 1971)
- Whipper Billy Watson (1915-1990)
[edit] Rowing, Kayaking
[edit] Rugby
[edit] Snowboarding
- Ross Rebagliati - Olympic snowboarding champion
[edit] Soccer (football)
- John Catliff
- Jonathan de Guzman
- Julian de Guzman
- Owen Hargreaves - plays for England
- Charmaine Hooper
- Atiba Hutchinson
- Will Johnson
- Bobby Lenarduzzi
- Dale Mitchell
- Jimmy Nicholl - played for N. Ireland
- Tomasz Radzinski
- Randy Samuel
- Christine Sinclair
- Paul Stalteri
- John van't Schip - played for the Netherlands
[edit] Speed skating
- Susan Auch
- Lela Brooks Potter
- Gaétan Boucher four-time Olympic medalist - 1980, 1984
- Sylvia Burka
- Sylvie Daigle
- Marc Gagnon, (born 1975), short track speed skater
- Charles Gorman
- Clara Hughes, (born 1972)
- Catriona Le May Doan, (born 1970)
- Annie Perreault, short track speed skaterOlympic Gold Medal - 1992 & 1998
- Frank Stack
- Jeremy Wotherspoon
- Pierre Hughes
[edit] Squash
- Jonathon Power The only North American squash player to attain the #1 world ranking.
- Graham Ryding
[edit] Swimming - Diving
- Marilyn Bell, first person to swim Lake Ontario
- Sylvie Bernier, Canada's first gold medal in Olympic diving
- Victor Davis (1964-1989), Olympic swimming champion
- Mark Tewksbury, Olympic Gold Medal
[edit] Synchronized swimming
- Caroline Waldo
- Sylvie Frechette
[edit] Track and field
- Donovan Bailey, (born 1967), sprinter, former 100m world record holder
- Étienne Desmarteau, weight thrower, Olympic champion
- Perdita Felicien (born 1980), 2003 world champion in 100m hurdles
- Ben Johnson, (born 1961), sprinter, disqualified from Olympic gold medal for doping
- Bobby Kerr, Olympic champion in 1908
- George Orton, first Canadian to become Olympic champion
- Percy Williams, (1908-1982), sprinter
[edit] Triathlon
- Simon Whitfield - Olympic triathelete
[edit] Weightlifting
- Louis Cyr - weightlifter
- The Great Antonio - strongman and wrestler