Greene won hearts of Canadians
Selecting the top moments in Canadian Winter Olympic history isn’t easy. There are so many to celebrate. We’ve narrowed it down to our top 25. Visit www.leaderpost.com/olympics and vote on your favourite in our Postmedia poll.
5. 1968: Nancy Greene Raine, alpine skiing
One year before the Grenoble Olympics, Greene broke the European stranglehold on alpine skiing by becoming the first North American to win the World Cup, a series of races that determines the global champion. The following year, she was Canada’s chief emissary, flag bearer and goldmedal favourite at the Games.
The tomboy from Rossland, B.C., would not disappoint, although she did leave the victory to her final event, following a 10th-place finish in the downhill (a waxing mistake caused problems) and a silver medal in the slalom.
She left no doubt about her dominance in the giant slalom, finishing a stunning 2.64 seconds ahead of France’s Annie Famose. In a sport where the difference between first and second is measured in 100ths, it was “like winning the Queen’s Plate by 40 lengths,” said legendary Toronto Star sports columnist Milt Dunnell.
Greene was awarded her gold medal between periods of the U.S, S.R.-Canada hockey game. Such was the respect afforded her that Canadian players sat on the bench in their hot, sweaty gear to get a glimpse of the shining, heart-stirring moment.
“I was in the broadcast booth with Fred Sgambati and Don Chevrier,” recalled CBC broadcaster Phil Reimer, who was then a media relations officer for the Canadian hockey team. “When they started playing O Canada we all started crying. I remember Chevy saying, ‘This song ends in 30 seconds, and one of us better get his act together.’ You couldn’t help yourself. There was so much emotion, and so much love from the French for Nancy.”
Greene was named Canada’s female athlete of the 20th century.