Search for ""

Winnie Roach-Leuszler, swimmer (born 3 February 1926 in Port Credit, ON; died 1 May 2004 in Surrey, BC). Winnie Roach-Leuszler was a successful marathon swimmer. In 1951, after serving with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps during the Second World War, she became the first Canadian to swim the English Channel. She also won the French long-distance championship in 1962. A recipient of the Order of Ontario, Roach-Leuszler was inducted into the Canadian Forces Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame and the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame.

Curtis Hibbert, gymnast (b at Mississauga, Ont 1966). Hibbert is the finest gymnast Canada has ever produced. Proficient in all apparatus, he excels in the strength events. In 1987 Hibbert won the first medal by a Canadian at the World Championships with a 2nd place finish in the high bar.

As the First World War dragged on in Europe, a group of remarkable young women turned the hockey world upside down.

​Albertine Lapensée (“Miracle Maid”), hockey player (born 10 August 1898 in Cornwall, ON; date and place of death unknown). Albertine Lapensée was arguably Canada’s first female hockey superstar.

Bertrand Godin, competitive driver, automotive columnist, host (born at Saint-Hélène-de-Bagot, Que 17 Nov 1967).

Annie Pelletier, diver (b at Montréal 22 Dec 1973). Under the supervision of coach Donald Dion she passed through all the steps toward international success. In 1991, she became a member of the Canadian national team.

George R. Gray, track and field athlete (b at Coldwater, Canada W 4 May 1865; d at Sault Ste Marie, Ont 7 Jan 1933). After high school he competed for 17 years at his specialty, putting the shot, without being defeated.

Three successive victories over the local champion Thomas Loudon led a group of Torontonians in 1876 to form the Hanlan Club to back Hanlan as a professional. The club bought him an English-made shell and equipped it with a sliding seat and swivel oarlocks.

Matthew Stewart Hilton, boxer (b at Cooksville, Ont 27 Dec 1965). He was one of 7 children, 6 of whom were boys who all boxed because their father had never been defeated during his 8 years as Canadian Welterweight Champion.

Philip Anthony Esposito, hockey player (b at Sault Ste Marie, Ont 20 Feb 1942). He began his NHL career as a centre in 1963 with the Chicago Black Hawks and was traded to the Boston Bruins in 1967.

Paul Martini, figure skater (b at Toronto 2 Nov 1960). Favoured to win the 1984 Olympic gold medal in pair skating at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, Martini and partner Barbara UNDERHILL gave 2 disappointing performances and finished in 7th place.

Donald McPherson, figure skater (b at Windsor, Ont 20 Feb 1945). World figure-skating champion in 1963, McPherson was the first Canadian to win the Canadian, North American and world championships in the same year.

Brian Orser, figure skater (b at Belleville, Ont 18 Dec 1961).

Nestor entered few singles tournaments after 2000 when a shoulder injury forced him to concentrate on doubles, in which he is now considered one of the world's finest players.

​In 1975, alpine skier Ken Read became the first North American to win a World Cup downhill race. For a period of about ten years, Read and three other young Canadians — Dave Irwin, Dave Murray, and Steve Podborski — challenged the European ski establishment and changed the course of ski racing history in Canada.