Trailblazing athletes, coaches and builders of Canada’s most successful Olympic sport honoured in newly renovated space
CALGARY, ALBERTA – The history of Canada’s most successful Olympic sport is now on full display at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, where Speed Skating Canada unveiled its newly revamped Hall of Fame during a ceremony with distinguished alumni and partners during the ISU World Cup Speed Skating on January 25.
First established in 1965, the Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame honours and recognizes athletes, teams and builders who have made extraordinary contributions to speed skating in Canada. The original Hall of Fame display at the Olympic Oval opened ahead of the 2003 ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships and had not been updated since late 2010.
As part of their innovative partnership with Speed Skating Canada, leading carbon capture and removal solutions provider, Svante, supported the revitalization of this public space as a way to ensure that the contributions of the sport’s trailblazing athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
Ron Weiser, Chair, Speed Skating Canada“We are very proud to have unveiled our sport’s new Hall of Fame and want to thank our partners at Svante for their collaboration in rebuilding this important space. This beautiful new display highlights the storied outdoor legacy of speed skating, and the unforgettable moments carved out by athletes on the ice and builders behind the scenes. We hope that this display at the Olympic Oval in Calgary serves to inspire generations to come to achieve their dreams.”
The newly minted Hall of Fame features a series of displays that showcase the humble outdoor beginnings of the sport in Canada, the unique equipment needed to skate at speeds of up to 60km/h, and the accomplishments of legendary athletes who have worn the maple leaf with pride on the international stage.
Over 125 individuals are enshrined in the Hall of Fame as athletes, teams or builders, and their names cycle through on a digital display at the Olympic Oval. Historical imagery and artifacts help tell the story of speed skating’s most memorable Olympic moments, including Gaétan Boucher’s double gold at Sarajevo 1984, Cindy Klassen’s five-medal performance at Turin 2006, and Operation Cobra which helped the men’s relay team capture gold on home ice at Vancouver 2010.
Canadian speed skating fans are encouraged to visit the Hall of Fame the next time they are in Calgary. The public space is located on the second floor of the Olympic Oval.