Sylvie Daigle
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Sylvie Daigle (born December 1, 1962 in Sherbrooke, Quebec) is a Canadian speed skater.
First competing in 1979, she has participated, and triumphed, in long-track events during the Canada Winter Games that year, winning gold in the 500-metre, 1000-metre and 1500-metre competitions. The following year in Lake Placid at the 1980 Winter Olympics, Sylvie Daigle finished 19th in the 500-metre.
At Sarajevo in the 1984 Winter Olympics, she was 20th in the 500-metre, 25th in the 1000-metre and 22nd in the 1500-metre. A pair of operations in 1985 and 1987, aimed at relieving the pain in her knees, led her to re-direct her career. Consequently, in 1987, she decided to devote herself to short-track speed skating, which was introduced the following year as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. There, Sylvie won a gold in the 1500-metre, silver in the 1000-metre and 3000-metre, and bronze in the 500-metre and 3000-metre relay.
Four years later, at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, short-track speed skating was an officially registered sport. There, Sylvie won the gold medal in the 3000-metre relay, but finished in 18th place in the 500-metre after a collision with American skater Cathy Turner during the preliminary round.
Following the Albertville Games, she started medical studies at the Université de Montréal, but suspended it to resume her training, with the goal of participating in the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. There, she won a silver medal.
Sylvie Daigle left the world of skating following the Lillehammer Games in order to finish her studies, obtaining a medical degree from the Université de Montréal in 1998.
[edit] Titles
- All-Around World Champion in 1979, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990
- Ten-time Canadian National Champion
[edit] Awards
- Elaine Tanner (best Canadian junior athlete): 1979, 1983
- Female Athlete of the Year (Canadian Speed Skating Association): 1988, 1989, 1991
- Velma Springstead Trophy: 1990
- Olympic Hall of Fame: 1991
