Town of Banff

Sharon Firth

Banff Sports Hall of Fame -
2008: Athlete

Banff Sports Hall of Fame - Sharon Firth

When cross-country ski careers seem to be measured in only a handful of years, Sharon Firth’s 17-year involvement in national and international competitions is outstanding. Beginning in 1968 with a bronze medal in the 5 km event at the Canadian Junior Championships, Sharon racked up countless medals and records until her retirement from skiing in 1985. Except for two seasons, she placed either first or second in the 5 or10 km events in the Canadian Championships from 1969 – 1983, and won gold in the 3 x 5 relay nine times, the most of any skier in Canadian senior history. In 1975, she was the first Canadian woman to sweep gold in the 5 km, 10 km, and 3x5 km relay at the North American Championships. At the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck, Sharon, along with sister Shirley and Sue Holloway, came 7th in the 3 x 5 relay, still the best-ever finish for a Canadian women’s Olympic cross-country relay team.

Along with her sister Shirley, Sharon was the only Canadian woman skier to compete in four consecutive Olympic Winter Games. 1981 saw Sharon’s best World Cup standings, at 31st.

In 1972 Sharon, along with sister Shirley was the first Nordic skier to be honoured with the John Semmelink Memorial Award by the Canadian Ski Association for her contribution to skiing in Canada. In 1987 she received the Order of Canada. She has been featured in three television documentaries, and was inducted into the Canadian Skiing Hall of Fame in 1990.  Sharon is the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (2005).