Catriona Le May Doan
Date: Friday, March 20, 2009
Time: Noon (exact times announced on registration form)
Location: Marquis Hall, University of Saskatchewan Campus, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Catriona Le May Doan was the fastest woman on ice. After carrying the Canadian flag into the 2002 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremonies (her fourth Olympics), Catriona defended her Olympic title with a Gold medal performance in the 500 metre event, becoming the only Canadian individual to defend a gold medal at any Olympic Games. She held the World Record in the 500m for 10 years and still currently holds the Olympic Record. During her career Catriona broke 13 World Records.
In 1998, at the Nagano Olympic Winter Games, Catriona won her first Olympic Gold medal in the 500m in Olympic record time, then added an Olympic Bronze Medal in the 1000m event. She finished the 1998 season first overall in the World Cup standings in both the 500m and 1000m events. In 1999 Catriona's domination in the speed skating world continued when she finished first overall in the World Cup standings for the 500m event.
Catriona's accomplishments have earned her the 2002 Lou Marsh Award as Canada's Athlete of the Year and she is a three-time recipient (1998, 2001, 2002) of the Canadian Female Athlete of the Year award.
In addition to being a world champion athlete, Catriona is a talented motivational speaker. She is an articulate, engaging and bilingual presenter, exploring with her audiences the method of achieving personal excellence while challenging and motivating people to achieve their full potential.
Catriona is actively involved in her community and charity associations including The Saskatoon Foundation Catriona Le May Doan Endowment for Children and Youth. She is a spokesperson for the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Canada, Right to Play, and Ontario's Lakefield Oval Project. She was on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee Board and is a Board member of CODA and the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary. Catriona is also part of the CBC Sports broadcast team co-hosting the primetime show “Countdown to Beijing" and the Olympic Games.
Catriona has received three Honorary Degrees from the University of Calgary, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina and gave the convocation speech to their graduating classes. Catriona was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Olympic Committee's Sports Hall of Fame and appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Catriona lives in Calgary with her husband Bart and their two children.
