Nancy Greene

Born: May 11, 1943
Place of Birth: Rossland, British Columbia

• Nancy Greene holds the Canadian record of 13 World Cup victories in skiing.

• As a youth, she learned to ski on the hills in British Columbia.

• One of her admired competitors was her own sister, Elizabeth, and fans loved to see the two compete.

• Nancy Greene was influenced by the skiing of Lucile Wheeler in 1958 who was the first Canadian skier to win an Olympic medal.

• Over the next few years, she improved in her skills determined to win a medal at the 1968 Olympics.

• She won several races on the world stage of skiing prior to entering the Olympics.

• Despite an injury, she skied to the gold medal in the giant slalom course beating out several favourites.

• Greene also won a silver medal in the same Olympics in the downhill slalom.

• She continued to win at the World Cup level following her Olympic triumphs.

• When Nancy Greene retired, she became a TV star in commercials for Mars Bars and Pontiac cars.

• She also served on the promotion staff of the Rossignol Ski Company, the maker of her winning skis.

• Greene and her husband, Al Raine, have actively promoted skiing in Canada through their ski lodge in BC.

• In 1968, Greene was given one of Canada's highest honours when she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

• Nancy Greene was also honoured in 1999 by being voted Canada's "Female Athlete of the Century".

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Last Updated: June 13, 2006
© Canada-Heros/Don Jones 2003