Field: Sports

Bianca Andreescu is the highest-ranked Canadian in Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) history. Her historic 2019 season began with a groundbreaking victory at the BNP Paribas Open, becoming the first wild-card winner in the tournament’s history. She then went on to defeat Serena Williams, securing both the US Open and the Rogers Cup titles. These victories made her the first Canadian tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title and the Rogers Cup in 50 years. Additionally, Andreescu is the first teenager to claim a Grand Slam singles title since 2006.

Andreescu’s success has helped raise the profile of tennis in Canada and contributed to the growth of the sport in the country.

Phyllis Bomberry’s athletic journey began at a young age, excelling in softball house leagues both on and off the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. Dubbed “Yogi” for her exceptional catching skills, she became a star player on the Ohsweken Mohawks team (1951-1963). Recognized for her talent, Yogi joined The Toronto Carpetland team in the Ontario Senior Women’s League. The team achieved back-to-back victories in the Senior Canadian Women’s Softball Championship in 1967 and 1968, with Yogi earning top batter and all-star catcher distinctions. In 1969, the team won gold at the inaugural Canada Games – where Yogi was hailed as the Most Valuable Player and all-star catcher once again.

As the first woman to receive the Tom Longboat award, Yogi broke barriers for Indigenous women in sports, inspiring generations of athletes.

Angela James, known as the “Wayne Gretzky of women’s hockey,” dominated the ice during the 1980s and 1990s. Leading the Canadian women’s hockey team to four World Championships (1990, 1992, 1994, and 1997), she earned a spot in the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, one of the first three women inducted. In 2010, James achieved groundbreaking recognition as one of the first two women, the first openly gay player, and the second Black athlete inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Her enduring impact on Toronto is evident in the rise of women’s hockey’s popularity and recognition, inspiring young women to pursue their sporting dreams.

Diana Carter etched her name in history as the first woman to win a car race in Canada. She emerged as the nation’s top female race car driver – also thriving in the male-dominated racing world of the 1960s. Carter’s exceptional talent led to three consecutive Coupes des Dames victories from 1963 to 1965, conquering one of North America’s most challenging rallies. In a groundbreaking feat, she also secured the CDRA Touring Class Championship in 1963, making her the first woman to achieve such a milestone.

Carter’s impressive achievements paved the way for women in motorsports and changed the landscape of Canadian race car driving.

Myrtle Cook McGowan, a Canadian track and field legend, achieved remarkable success as a sprinter in the 1920s. She astounded the world with a 12.0 second world record in the 100m race during the Olympic Trials in Halifax. As part of the “Matchless Six,” Canada’s first women’s track team, she made history by securing a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Throughout her illustrious career, Cook claimed six Canadian titles and set numerous records. After retiring, she embarked on a successful 44-year career as a sports journalist for the Montréal Daily Star.

McGowan was a pioneer for future female athletes on national and international stages.

Penny Oleksiak, Canada’s most decorated Olympian, achieved international acclaim with an astonishing feat at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, securing four medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze – at just 16 years old. She became the first Canadian athlete to win four medals in a single Summer Olympics. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, Oleksiak continued to shine, capturing three more medals: one silver and two bronze – solidifying her position as the most decorated Canadian Olympian of all time. With nine career medals, Penny is also Canada’s most decorated swimmer at the FINA World Championships.

Oleksiak’s talent and unwavering commitment serve as an inspiration to young swimmers, motivating future generations of athletes to pursue excellence in their endeavours.

A remarkable figure in Canadian sports, Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld achieved acclaim as both a track and field athlete and a sportswriter. Her shining moment came at the 1928 Olympic Summer Games in Amsterdam, where she secured two Olympic medals – becoming one of the first Canadian women to compete at the Games. Unfortunately, arthritis cut short her athletic career, but she channeled her passion into writing. For 20 years, her column “Sports Reel” graced the pages of The Globe and Mail, where she promoted and defended women’s sports in an otherwise discriminatory landscape.

Rosenfeld served as a role model for women in sports, particularly those from the working class.