Let's go, girls!
March 8th is International Women’s Day (IWD), a day to reflect on and celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of women around the world. It offers a chance to celebrate the many women who have made significant strides and broken barriers across various fields, from sports and science to politics and the arts.
Let's highlight the accomplishments of five exceptional women who proudly represented Canada at the latest Summer and Winter Olympic Games, breaking barriers and inspiring future generations.
The past summer was truly the "Summer of Summer."
The 18-year-old swimmer from Toronto, ON, has already established herself as one of Canada's greatest athletes of all time—and she's just getting started. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she made history as the first Canadian athlete to win three gold medals in a single Games, all while breaking her own records. Her exceptional performance in the pool contributed to Canada’s best-ever Olympic medal haul.
It’s no surprise that the swimming phenom was named Canada’s Athlete of the Year for 2024, as her record-breaking triumphs have made her a powerful source of inspiration to many.
A powerhouse of strength and precision, the hammer throw star and record holder from Richmond, B.C., played a key role in cementing Canada as a hammer throw nation. In 2023, she captured gold at the World Championships in Budapest. Then, just one year later, she made history with a remarkable 76.69-metre throw to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With this victory, she became the first Canadian woman to ever win an Olympic gold in hammer throw and the first Canadian woman since 1928 to win an individual Olympic track and field event.
Hailing from Winnipeg, MB, the taekwondo star has been involved in the sport from an early age, thanks to her strong family connections. She earned her black belt at just seven years old, with her father coaching her and playing a crucial role in shaping her into the resilient competitor she has become today. In 2023, Park had a standout year, claiming four international titles, including gold at the Pan American Games.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won a bronze medal—Canada’s first in taekwondo in 16 years and the country’s third overall in the sport.
This elite speed skater from Ottawa, ON, has become one of the top long-distance competitors in the world.
A multi-medalist at numerous World Cups, World Championships, and the Winter Olympics, she also holds the Canadian record in both the 5000m and team pursuit. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, she contributed to Canada’s impressive medal haul, earning a bronze, silver, and gold in the team pursuit alongside Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais, while setting a new Olympic record.
Her outstanding success was honoured when she was selected to carry the Canadian flag at the closing ceremony.
A trailblazing hockey player, Nurse has become a household name both on and off the ice. She made history at the 2022 Beijing Olympics by winning gold with the women's ice hockey team and breaking the record for the most points in a single Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament. A multi-time world champion, the power forward now plays for the Toronto Sceptres in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
Beyond her athletic accolades, the Hamilton, ON, native is a passionate advocate for diversity and representation in sports, using her platform to inspire young athletes, particularly women of colour. Nurse was also honoured with her own Barbie doll and became the first woman to appear on the cover of EA Sports NHL.
Support for women’s sports has grown significantly in recent years, with increased viewership and media coverage highlighting the remarkable talent of female athletes. This momentum is further reflected in the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, set to be the most gender-balanced in history, with women making up 47% of athletes and competing in a record 50 events.
Through their groundbreaking success, the women of Team Canada have inspired future generations and continue to make a lasting impact.
Which athlete inspires you?
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Sarah Nurse's hand-eye coordination is off the charts. 📈 (🎥: @thepwhlofficial & @PWHL_Toronto)
Such resilience! 👏 Skylar Park earns bronze in women’s taekwondo in the under 57 kg category. 🥉 All the details ➡️ olympic.ca/2024/08/08/sky…
“It means so much to represent Canada… to wear the Maple Leaf, to be carried by everybody back home, my friends and my family.” 🗣 Canada's Closing Ceremony flag bearer Isabelle Weidemann Details ➡️ bit.ly/3rYp8LL @i_weidemann | @SSC_PVC
Team Canada takes the hammer throw crown at #Paris2024! 🥇🥇 Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers achieved a full sweep, winning gold in both the men and women events. 🔨 It’s only the third time in history that a nation has won gold in both categories!
🇨🇦 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Here’s the moment Summer McIntosh received the phone call letting her know she’s the Northern Star winner as Canada’s athlete of the year. And she wins it on the night she broke the world record for gold and then won bronze with her team on the relay.
