Silken Laumann (2004)

Silken Laumann gained rowing glory living and training in Victoria and she is well known to all Canadians for rebounding from a serious leg injury to win the bronze medal for single sculls at the 1992 Olympics. Laumann provided many amazing performances during 13 years of competitive rowing. She made the national team in 1983 at 18 and the following year won Olympic bronze in double sculls paired with her sister. She battled chronic back pain in the 1980's then climbed the international rowing ladder and won the World Championship in 1991. Laumann's efforts earned her the 1991 Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's Outstanding Athlete. But there was more recognition and competitive glory to come. Her bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, coming less than two months after her boat was rammed and her leg badly injured at a regatta in Germany, became the stuff of legends. She went on to win more World medals and retired from the national team after winning singles silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Laumann was named Canada's 1992 Female Athlete of the Year and became the first non-American to win the Wilma Rudolph International Courage Award in 1997. She was named to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.