Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Barbara Ann Scott - Canadian Olympic Champion

Barbara Ann Scott was one of our country's finest athletes, a figure skater in the mid to late 1940s who was dominant in the sport, winning the gold at the St. Moritz Olympics, among many other victories and accolades. You can read more about her here.


She was also a local, born and raised here, and though she retired from the sport and took on life in other parts, she often came back to Ottawa and retained a place in the hearts of many. Here at Ottawa's City Hall, a gallery has been set aside, with her story told through text and photography, as well as collecting her memorabilia, including trophies, clothing, awards, and the Olympic gold medal. I have more from here tomorrow.

43 comments:

  1. It seems she was a real trailblazer and role model. I really like your new header photo.

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  2. I see you're well documented about this athlete.

    Tomás.

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  3. I am, sadly, ignorant of Barbara Ann (except for the Beach Boys one) and sport in general, for that matter. But that opening b&w photo is a stunner - a ghostly image of style and grace - compelling.

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  4. I learned something new. Here we had Sonja Henie who was Norway´s most famous figure skater and also became a film star in USA.

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  5. Barbara Ann Scott is a great Canadian figure and does her nation proud. The first photo shows her grace and her beauty too!

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  6. What a lovely way to honour one of Ottawa's finest, beautifully shown exhibition William.

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  7. A wonderful tribute to a talented athlete in a beautiful sport. Brava Barbara Ann!

    Janis
    GDP

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  8. A lovely way to remember la reine du patin !

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  9. @Pat: she was!

    @Tomas: having had taken these shots just a few days ago the details are fresh in my memory.

    @Mike: that one really caught my eye.

    @Gunn: I don't follow figure skating but that name is familiar.

    @Nancy: and more to come.

    @Grace: it is a very good tribute.

    @Janis: she left behind quite a legacy.

    @Ciel: it is!

    @Hilary : thank you!

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  10. I don't remember her, but she was very accomplished and from her photos, very beautiful!

    Thanks for your funny comment about the golf carts. You're not far off the mark.

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  11. For those who lived through that time like me, she was truly big big. Even a little farm kid like me followed her .

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  12. I don't know a lot about figure skating. I have never heard the name Barbara Ann Scott before. Actually the only thing I know about figure skating is the war between Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, but in fact that didn't have anything to do with figure skating.

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  13. That is a very nice tribute to her accomplishments.

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  14. @VP: I quite agree.

    @Tex: definitely so.

    @Lowell: I figured!

    @Red: even though I don't follow the sport and she was decades ahead of my time, the name stands out perhaps most because she was Canadian.

    @Jan: I think Tonya Harding would be the reverse of Barbara Ann Scott: no class, no grace, and no scruples.

    @Sharon: it really is.

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  15. great exhibit on her...the image is ghostly!

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  16. I love the first image of her. Looks beautiful. And the dress...gorgeous!

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  17. Barbara was a wonderful skater. They even had a doll of her wit the skates on.

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  18. Thank you for sharing. Very interesting. How old would she be now do you know or I have over read not seeing it.

    I guess in her 80's ?

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  19. That first shot looks like pure happiness. Great article. I do remember the name for some reason.
    MB

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  20. Wonderful tribute and series, William.

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  21. This is just a wonderful post today.
    I love the look of such happiness on her face in the photo.

    cheers, parsnip

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  22. So great to see she is honoured this way.

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  23. Great post and thank you for introducing me to such an extraordinary lady.

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  24. It's a lovely tribute to one of Canada's great athletes!

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  25. @Tanya: that does seem the impression. I imagine it's a combination of still posing and quick motion.

    @Tamago: she was even petite later in life.

    @Carolann: she passed away some years ago.

    @MB: she's well known on this side of the border.

    @Linda: thanks!

    @Parsnip: and more to come.

    @Marleen: it is a fitting tribute.

    @Denise: you're welcome.

    @Norma: that it is.

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  26. pretty dress. i hope your day was better than mine. nuts. have a happy evening too. thanks for stopping by today,
    ( :

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  27. She was certainly a big star! I came after her wins but I remember the dolls were still around when I was a kid! Nice post, William!

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  28. Wow, that's quite a girl, that first picture is great...

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  29. Impressive. It seems women were given more accolades then despite what current rantings say otherwise.

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  30. Your post might inspire a future figure skater--a wonderful tribute William.

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  31. It looks like a wonderful exhibit William. I think figure skating is my favorite Olympic event.

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  32. @Beth: hopefully tomorrow's better.

    @RedPat: thank you!

    @Geoff: I thought so.

    @Mari: she certainly deserved them.

    @Eve: that could be.

    @Lois: I tend to like long track speed skating, actually.

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  33. Love that 1st old photo!!! Love the ghost image of the action...one of the perks of the old cameras!!!
    It's so cool to have someone like her as a "local"!!! A true inspiration. Nice tribute William!

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  34. It sounds like she was a justifiable legend. Quite an athlete and a trailblazer...even an equestrian later on. What an inspiration!

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  35. Interesting. That first image is so graceful, quite stunning.

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  36. A nice tribute to a local icon.

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  37. Oh yes, Barbara Ann Scott is a big name in Canadian skating history!

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  38. @Jack: very good!

    @Revrunner: she was.

    @Chieftess: I did too.

    @Kay: indeed!

    @Linda: it is.

    @Bill: I thought so.

    @EG: very much so.

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