Past & Present Canadian Olympic Icons

Mario Lemieuxsupports charitable events for the UNICEF efforts in
No stranger to adversity, Lemieux was diagnosedAfghanistan.
with a deadly form of cancer early in his professionalElvis Stojko
career. Although cancer treatment may have slowedNamed after The King of Rock and Roll, Stojko grew
his progress, it never stopped him. Soon after Marioup figure skating to Elvis Presley’s music. Years
Lemieux not only led the Pittsburgh Penguins to 2later, Stojko earned a page in the record books as
NHL Stanley Cups, but he also led Team Canada to ahe became the first person in history to successfully
gold medal victory in the 2002 Winter Olympicland a quadruple double jump at the 1991 World
Games. As a result, Lemieux was awarded a spot inChampionships. Three years later, Stojko brought
the Hockey Hall of Fame.back his first silver medal followed by another as he
competed all the way through 2002.
Cindy KlassenAfter his popular skating career, Stojko made several
Klassen kicked off her competitive career on theguest appearances on television. He guest starred as
women’s Field Lacrosse Team at the 1994himself in an episode of Kill Gil: Vols. 1 & 2, Chilly
Commonwealth Games. After experimenting withBeach, and The Simpsons.
lacrosse, hockey, and in-line skating, KlassenDonovan Bailey
eventually found her true calling in speed skatingAfter finishing his Business Degree and securing a
where she took home a Canadian record breaking 5fulfilling job, Donovan was finally satisfied. That all
Olympic medals from the 2006 Winter Games.changed the day he was watching TV and witnessed
More recently, Cindy has decided to sit out the 2009the people he used to beat in high school competing
World Cup season in preparation for the 2010on the National Team. From this point on, Donovan
Whistler Olympics. So far, Cindy has won 8 Olympicknew he had to return to the track. Only 6 years
medals and hopes to add to her collection.later, Donovan demolished the 100m World &
Beckie ScottOlympic record winning himself his first gold medal.
By the early age of 5, Beckie Scott had alreadySoon after setting the world record for the 100m
strapped on her skis and started developing skills thatsprint, he was challenged by the Olympic winner of
would eventually lead her to the 1998 & 2002the 200m sprint, Michael Johnson, in a highly publicized
Winter Olympic Games. After finishing 3rd in the 5kmrace that would decide who was "the world’s
cross-country skiing pursuit, Beckie Scott wasfastest man."
bumped up to first place and awarded gold after herToronto’s SkyDome laid host for the sold out
opponents tested positive for illegal performancecrowd of 60,000 plus hundreds of thousands of
enhancing drugs. As a result, Beckie then madeothers tuning in on their television sets eagerly
Canada proud as she became the first Northanticipating this Canada vs. US showdown! And a
American woman to win an Olympic medal inshowdown it was as both racers blasted out of the
cross-country skiing.gates and were neck and neck for the majority of
Not surprisingly, Beckie is now a member of thethe track. However, as Bailey creeped past, Johnson
World Anti-Doping Agency’s athletes committeepulled his quadriceps allowing Donovan Bailey to zoom
to help eliminate performance enhancing drugs frompast the finish line as the world’s fastest man.
competitive sports. Additionally, Beckie Scott also