The 20 year old McDavid is currently in his 2nd season with the NHLs Edmonton Oilers, and is the teams captain. In the early 2000s, he spent the majority of his time in the top ten rankings and brought a major golf title to Canada for the first time ever when he won the Masters in 2003. The former Canadian senator is better known as the best alpine skier of her day. The famous athlete was nicknamed 'The Big Train'. updated December 20, 2017, 7:59 pm, by Its always an inspiring sight to see a Canadian with that gold medal around their neck. And that wasn't the end of it. He has been a household name in Canada for years as he tore up developmental and junior hockey leagues as a teenager before making his NHL debut at 18 in 2015. CBC Sports' Signa Butler celebrates some of Canada's most storied female athletes. See also; 10 Highest Paid Athletes in the world. Steve Nash was initially drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1996, but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998 where established himself as one of the leagues best passers. Lionel Conacher Hometown: Toronto, Ontario. 6 Cross-country skiing. What comes to mind when you think of Canada and sports? 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 He was the inspiration for the 1998 movie My Giant. Oleksiakss impressive breakthrough performance in Rio earned her the honor of being named Canadas flag bearer for the Olympic Closing Ceremonies, and won her the Lou Marsh award, given annually to the top Canadian athlete of that year. Gretzky holds the title of The Great One due to his undeniable skill in the game, but why is it then that Gordie Howe holds the title of Mr.Hockey? Previously dominated by the Europeans, Greene took over in 1967 winning the inaugural World Cup and seven out of 16 events on the circuit that year. He has won World Championship gold medals with Canada at both the Junior (2015) and Senior (2016) level. Jeannie Longo's athletic career began in her hometown in the French Alps. The Saskatchewan-raised athlete skated for both the Oilers and the Boston Bruins, and was also playing for Edmonton's AHL affiliate team, the Bakersfield Condors, in the 2019-2020 season. As the first female leader of a political party in Canada, Thrse Casgrain changed the political landscape forever. Ben Johnson also won a gold medal at the 1985 World Indoor Championships. We recognize the resilience of Indigenous storytellers and Knowledge Keepers who have kept their stories alive despite attempts to silence them. An artists essay became a call-to-arms for social change. Jeannie Longos athletic career began in her hometown in the French Alps. Two different events. Like Terry Fox, Rick Hansen is often honoured for his courage and strength against adversity, but hes also celebrated as a truly gifted athlete. Canada produced a pair of elite sprinters in the late part of the 20th century, but only one of them did it legitimately. 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. 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. It's incredible how many setbacks the Firths endured - illness, the death of their mother - but they always kept fighting through. 19 year old Brooke Henderson is a rising star on the LPGA tour, having already won 3 tournaments (including 1 Major) at the LPGA level. Mathieu Drouin is the culture and education manager at Muse des Ursulines de Qubec City. She retired after 2012 London Games after finishing fifth in the time trial. In 1942, she ran for federal election as a Liberal and lost. Few athletes on this list hold the type of legacy that Fox has among Canadians. 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. Once in Qubec City, she met Marie-Madeleine de Chauvigny de la Peltrie, founder of the Ursulines in Qubec. The first ever World Cup ski race was held in 1967. Perhaps no other name in the history of French sports is more popular today than Lacoste. When you have those kinds of stats, you can find yourself on a Google Doodle or in a Heritage Minute. Her bronze in the 5,000 metres in Vancouver was epic. In 2019, she already has two top-10 finishes under her belt and in 2018 she became the first Canadian woman to win the Canadian Women's Open in 45 years. Comments are welcome while open. In honor of Canada Day, here are the 25 greatest Canadians of all time: 26. Five years later, he received his first players license. 50.97, Ethel Smith is the most famous Canadian Athlete. She won the French road race Championship that same year. Parker himself turned pro at the age of 17. In 2022, Andre De Grasse won a gold medal at the World Championships. His biography has been translated into 18 different languages. 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. While growing up in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, she was quite the fastball player, representing Canada at the world junior championships at one point. This list answers the questions, "What famous female athletes are from Canada?" and "Who are the greatest female Canadian athletes?" Sydney Leroux Age: 32 Mary Pierce Age: 48 Carey May Age: 63 Sarah Murphy Age: 35 Helen Upperton Age: 43 Sarah Podorieszach Age: 33 She was educated by the Ursulines a religious order devoted to educating girls and caring for the sick and needy. She sings in both French and English, layering beautiful vocal hooks and incredible musical arrangements into one awesome package. However, these did not stop him from becoming one of the greatest athletes France has ever had. 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. Canada's national women's soccer team, on the other hand, is one of the best in the world and are currently ranked fourth. She won three gold medals in total at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and 1994. Make a donation to Canadas History Society. Football superstar Kylian Mbapp is a forward for the France national team and Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. Lloyd Eisler is a Canadian former pairs skater who won the Olympic bronze medal in 1992 and 1994 along with his partner Isabelle Brasseur. 5 Bobsleigh. Early Years. Jenkins wasnt just a talented baseball player either, as he spent a few off-seasons playing for the Harlem Globetrotters. He later coached the US Naval Academy team and also co-designed a safer hurdle. 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. 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. In this category, we zone in on individual sports. They made little Inuvik a hotbed of ski talent. In 1979, he wasinductedintothe National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. No surprise she was voted the top female Canadian athlete of the 20th century. Olympic silver medalist Canadian long-distance runner Mohammed Ahmed scripted history as Canadas first medal winner at the 5,000m at both the World Championships and the Olympics. In Brazil, she competed in track cycling where she collected her first-ever podium finish, a bronze in the team pursuit. It may be shocking to see the likes of Lemieux, Roy and Messier missing but rest assured their talents are not overlooked. Donovan Bailey Hometown: Manchester, Jamaica (immigrated to Oakville, Ontario). Henri Bourassa, born in 1868 in Montral, had a significant impact on Canadian politics through his nationalist position, which still resonates today. Hockey as he is commonly known, still holds the record for most games played in the NHL. A 16-year span of dominance! 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. She's the only female Paralympian to win the Lou Marsh Award as the top athlete in Canada (2008). Playing in other North American professional leagues, Former NCAA Division I players awaiting professional play. 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. Sufia Banu He also piled up 11 top-10 and four top-5 major finishes in his career. Same result champions. To mark its 30th He played professionally for Cannes in 1989. Robbed of that Olympic moment, she formed a powerful voice in the boardroom. Desai Williams was a Canadian sprinter best remembered for winning a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Percy Williams is widely regarded as the greatest Canadian Olympic athlete of all time. He was later dubbed The Eighth Wonder of the World.. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. This International Women's Day, let's celebrate some of Canada's female heroes of the past and not-so distant past. 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. Canadian teammate Ethel Catherwood won gold in high jump. Noted for his top speed, he became the first Canadian to legally break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters. Ren Lacoste invented this signature polo shirt, but thats not all. 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. Sharon Firth said: "The world was so fascinated by us skinny indian girls and boys and how we danced on skis. 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. In span of his career, he had 10 grand slams to boot, 24 career titles, and was at No. 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. In 2022, Andre De Grasse won a gold medal at the World Championships. He retired from professional football in 2006. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. Guy Carleton (1724-1808) Sir Guy (later the Baron Dorchester) was an early and important British governor of the new English colony of Quebec, serving from 1768-1778 and then 1786-1796.He oversaw the implementation of the Quebec Act (1774), which aimed to create social peace with the French-Canadians while still asserting English political control. 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. 48.39, Jean Collas is the 6th most famous French Athlete. She ran the anchor leg for Jane Bell, Ethel Smith and Myrtle Cook as Canada won gold in the inaugural 4x100-metre relay. Hes a 23-time NHL All-Star and held a number of hockeys scoring records until Wayne Gretzky broke them in the 1980s. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin 22/35 Rachel McAdams This Mean Girl was born in London, Ontario. He was also the creator of the first steel tennis racket and the tennis ball machine. Historic Irish neighbourhood is enjoying a renaissance. He has been knighted by the Quebec government. Shes also Canadas most decorated female athlete, with 24 medals in speed skating. His illustrious career has seen him compete internationally for Jamaica, Canada, and Monaco. 6 6. Though they went undefeated (27-0) through FOUR Olympic Games (1924-1936), there were no gold medals to show around their necks. With so many trailblazers in this country, this list could run off the page. He has also earned the Best Young Player and French Player of the Year awards for his stellar performances. Crosby has been a household name in Canada since he was a young teenager, as he dominated every age group. 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. In 2011, Velma Springstead was posthumously elected as a member of the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame. We kicked off our series of Canada 150 articles last week with Canadas 15 best ski resorts. Initially, Hughes won two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. Donnie Wahlberg. Better known as GSP, Georges helped to turn the UFC and mixed martial arts mainstream. 2021 all rights reserved, SeasonedPros.ca. This week its the top 15 athletes in Canadas decorated sports history. READ MORE: Interesting Facts About Kylian Mbapp. He is also a former Commonwealth Champion and a 2-time World Champion. He is also the program assistant of Canadas History Society. A member . He also won the 4x100m relay at the 2018 NACAC Championships. Birthplace: Bruges, Belgium; raised in France. A 4-time Olympian and an Olympic gold medalist, retired Canadian track and field athlete Bruny Surin has been a master of the 4100m relay. An advocate for Indigenous issues, Chalmers has made efforts to connect with and inspire . Conacher succeeded in a number of sports including football, hockey, baseball, lacrosse, boxing and wrestling. Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. Melissa Benoist, American actress, of partial French descent through paternal great-grandfather. Wayne Gretzky-ice hockey player. There are a number of Canadians doing good things on the PGA Tour, but that wasnt always the case. The Hub is brought to you by Boomerswork.com where we put your experience to work. Cecil Smith, her sister Maude "Jim" Smith, and Constance Wilson competed for Canada in figure skating at the 1928 . She joined the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) athlete committee in 2005 and in 2012 was appointed to their executive committee. Her ski schools were everywhere. Elected in the Montral suburb of Verchres, he became co-premier of the unified Province of Canada along with John A. Macdonald. Known for his mix of speed, power, skill, and grit. In 1640, Mance learned that religious women the Ursulines and Augustinians had established themselves in Qubec and she was inspired to go to New France. The Jamaican born, Canadian sprinter won gold in the 100m setting a new world record of 9.84 seconds in the process. She won the first-ever World Cup skiing race in 1967 before winning gold at the 1968 winter Olympic giant slalom event. Similarly to Andre De Grasse, Penny Oleksiak used the 2016 Summer Olympics as a means to catapult herself to the forefront of her sport. Here are the Top 10 Canadian athletes in the world today. 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). His championship wins and titles are too many to name, but hes won the Indianapolis 500, and the Formula One World Championshiponly the third racer to have done so and the first Canadian to win the Indy 500 and F-1 championships. Candice Quigley Canadian Olympic School Program: Black History Collection. The gifted playmaker returned to Phoenix in 2004 where he won back to back NBA MVP Awards. She had been threatened with expulsion from the tournament if she continued to miss press obligations. She then represented Great Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, winning a silver medal in both the events. He campaigned for greater independence for Lower Canada, which was dominated by an influential British minority. More than any other player, Howe played the whole game. At the 2006 winter Olympic, Klassen became the only Canadian athlete to ever win five medals at one Olympic games. 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. Her biography has been translated into 23 different languages on wikipedia. He also won a gold medal at the 1981 Pacific Conference Games and at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. She won the first-ever World Cup skiing race in 1967 before winning gold at the 1968 winter Olympic giant slalom event. Their homecoming to Toronto was nuts. Without a doubt, Canadas greatest basketball player. 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. He won three Welterweight Championships between 2006 and 2008 and was listed as the number one welterweight in the world for several years. Nicknamed The Predator, Patrick Ct is a former Canadian boxer and MMA fighter. Now in his 3rd NBA season, Wiggins is a rising star in the NBA thanks to his athleticism and skill. Jamaican-born Canadian bobsledder Lascelles Brown is an Olympic silver medalist and a former World Champion. Nicknamed The Big Train, Lionel Conacher might be the least known athlete on this list, despite having a national award named after him. He spent five years inside the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings, sandwiched around his historic Masters win in 2003. But she got her first Olympic start in Vancouver 2010 in alpine skiing. She was a downhill skier before switching to cycling at the urging of her coach, Patrice Ciprelli, who later became her husband. 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. Just before winning four consecutive Olympic gold medals in hockey, Wickenheiser starred for the softball team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. But you could argue Nancy Greene's greatest contribution was inspirational. Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions. Crosby also won two Olympic gold medals with Canada, including the 2010 final, where he scored a famous golden goal in the finals. As a cyclist, Hughes competed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta where she raced to bronze in both the road race and time trial. Olympic gold medalist Canadian athlete Fanny Bobbie Rosenfeld earned the nickname Bobbie for the bob cut she sported. Ballard also owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Our focus was to represent aboriginal people on the world stage in sport and I think that's what we did.". 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. Competing in his first Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 200m, and bronze medals in the 100m and 4 x 100m relay. The Haitian-born athlete had moved to Canada as a child. A cyclist and a speed skater, she set records for not only Canadians, but athletes from all over the world. Given the overwhelming reasons to be proud of our nations athletic output, what better time to look at the all time great athletes Canada hasgiven the sports world. Born in 1606 to a bourgeois family in Langres in northwest France, Jeanne Mance founded Montrals first hospital. A lot can happen in four years. Hayley Wickenheiser Hometown: Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. He has won two silver medals and three bronze medals in two Olympic Games so far. Army Howard Army Howard competes in the 4th round of the 100m at the Inter-Allied Games at the Pershing Stadium in Paris in July 1919. As an athlete, she won 21 medals at five Paralympic Games from 1992 to 2008, including 14 gold medals, and broke 26 world records along the way. Phil Edwards was a Guyanese-born Canadian track and field athlete who specialized in middle-distance events. An MFC middleweight champion, he has also won 3 UFC titles. He also led the 4 x 100m relay team to a gold medal in the same Olympics. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Former Edmonton Grads basketball team members (left to right) Edith Stone Sutton (1930-34), Margaret MacBurney . 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. Scott resigned WADA's compliance and review committee in 2018 over the reinstatement of Russia's anti-doping agency. Explore a timeline of Montreals 375-year history! Paris Olympics 2024: What We Know So Far - Journey To France, [] as the most environmentally friendly ever, with recycled medals, 100 percent renewable energy, and athletes sleeping on cardboard [], COPYRIGHT 2023 JOURNEY TO FRANCE | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, 7 Most Famous French Athletes Of All Time, https://www.facebook.com/Journey-To-France-100107831746499/. 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. She won the French road race Championship that same year. Primarily a speed skater, Hughes also won two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 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. Alexandre Lippmann, French fencer (pe), Olympic champion. However, in recent years a number of Canadians in various sports have made an impact at the highest levels. Top 10 Female Athletes [ edit] Nancy Greene (born 1943), skier Silken Laumann (born 1964), rower Barbara Ann Scott (1928-2012), figure skater Myriam Bdard (born 1969), biathlon Marnie McBean (born 1968), rower Fanny "Bobbie" Rosenfeld (1904-1969), track-and-field (voted female athlete of the first half of the century) Edmonton basketball stars Michelle and Katherine Plouffe captured gold at the 2015 Pan Am Games, in between representing Canada at back-to-back Olympic Games. Nancy Greene, nicknamed Tiger for her aggressive style of skiing, is one of the most decorated alpine skiers in Canadian history. They're the most successful team in Canadian history, winning an astounding 95 per cent of their matches. 2 Association football. JB Blanc (born 1969), actor; father of French descent. Her biggest win so far in her career is a victory at the 2016 KPMG Womens PGA Championship. He delivered many speeches calling for Canadas complete independence, going so far as to oppose the Dominions involvement in the First World War. Ben Johnson is a Canadian retired sprinter who was adjudged the world's fastest man during the 198788 season after he broke the 60m and 100m indoor world records. In 1834, the Patriotes won a large majority in the Legislative Assembly and prepared a series of reforms, dubbed the Ninety-Two Resolutions, which would allow French Canadians to win power in Lower Canada through responsible government. Hometown: Manchester, Jamaica (immigrated to Oakville, Ontario), Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa (immigrated to Regina, Saskatchewan then Victoria, B.C. Sidney Crosby is regarded as one of the best hockey players of all time and has amassed over 1200 points over his fifteen-year playing career alongside eight all-star appearances and three Stanley Cups. (Photo: National Archives Bookstore.) Raonic has 8 ATP titles to his name, and has earned over $14 million (USD) in career winnings. or back-to-back World Cup overall titles, Greene Raine ruled the slopes and inspired the next generation of ski racers, male and female. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Brooke Henderson. He had a permanently damaged lung due to an accident. Percy Williams was a Canadian athlete best remembered for winning two gold medals at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Wickenheiser also represented Canada once in the Summer Olympics as a part of the softball team. Together, they left trails of smoke on tracks from Vancouver to Sochi and just about everywhere around the globe. You probably don't know these names, but you should. Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe are two among the most famous ice hockey players the country has seen. Two-time Olympic medalist Canadian sprinter Aaron Brown has also been a World Champion in 2022. Here are the top 10 greatest celebrated Canadian athletes of all time; 1. The Great One holds almost every NHL record you can think of and helped Edmonton become the City of Champions in the late 1980s. 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. Canadian track and field athlete and Paralympian Rick Hansen is a 3-time Paralympic Games champion. 2 female tennis player in the world, withdrew from the French Open on Monday after she was fined $15,000 for failing to attend a post-match press conference. updated March 31, 2019, 10:41 am, by His best-known role was Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride in 1987. And the rest is history. . France is most noted for its amazing breads, cheeses, and wines; art, architecture, and fashion; and of course, its fabulous destinations. Born in Montral in 1786, he grew up at his familys estate and studied law. If you liked this article, please share it! After a spinal cord injury at 15, he became a paraplegic. This resulted in unrest leading to the Lower Canada Rebellion of 183738. This is all thanks to his world-famous eponymous polo shirt brand with the crocodile logo. 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. In 2001, he became part of NBAs San Antonio Spurs team as a pointguard and went on to become a 4-time NBA champion. She did it in her 500-metre specialty at both the 1998 and 2002 Games. She is currently ranked an impressive 8th in the world at her sport, a position that she will no doubt surpass in the future. Nicknamed the bulldog of Britannia, Longboat also served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a soldier during the First World War. Overall, Wickenheiser's played in six Olympic Games. Fiction Feature: Its Manitoba in 1888. Probably Canadas most famous Paralympic athlete, hes won three golds, two silvers and one bronze between 1980 and 1984. However, France has also produced some of the worlds most famous athletes. He bred and raced Standardbred horses as a hobby. 6.Jean Collas (1874 - 1928). She represented Canada at the 2008 Paralympic Games, where she won a bronze medal. Now, Humphries competes for the United States after an acrimonious split from the Canadian program. Women's basketball didn't become an official Olympic sport until 1976. Canada's female athlete of the century famous (sharing the century honours with Wayne Gretzky).