 Le May Doan in 2010 at theOlympic Plaza in Calgary, Alberta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1970-12-23)December 23, 1970 (age 54) Saskatoon,Saskatchewan, Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Speed skating | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catriona Ann Le May Doan,OC (born December 23, 1970) is a retiredCanadianspeed skater and a double Olympic champion in the 500 m. She served as the chef de mission forTeam Canada at the2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[1]
Born inSaskatoon,Saskatchewan, ofScottish ancestry, Le May Doan won theOlympic 500 m title at the1998 Winter Olympics inNagano,Japan.[2] She repeated the feat at the2002 Winter Olympics inSalt Lake City,Utah, giving rise to the title "the fastest woman on ice".[1] At the Nagano Olympics, she also won a bronze in the 1,000 m. She was World Sprint Champion 1998 and 2002 and World Champion 500 m 1998, 1999, and 2001, and won a 500 m bronze in 2000. She also won the 500 m World Cup 4 times (in 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2003) and the 1,000 m World Cup once (in 1998).[citation needed] She wasCanada's flag bearer at the Winter Olympics twice, for the1998 Nagano Olympics closing ceremony and the opening ceremony of the2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
On November 22, 1997, Le May Doan became the first woman to break the 38-second barrier for the 500 m, skating 37.90s inCalgary,Alberta.[citation needed] Before the year was over, she had tied the record once and broken it twice, ending on 37.55 s. Within the next four years, she broke this record four more times, up to 37.22 s in Calgary, in December 2001. Between 7 January 2001 and 24 February 2001, Le May Doan was the only woman under the 38-second barrier, achieving it 14 times, including the eight times that she lowered the overall record.
In the1994 Winter Olympics, Le May Doan fell on the 500 m and placed 17th on the 1,500 m. Prior to Nagano, she was training with her teammate and rivalSusan Auch, both being coached by Susan's brother, Derrick Auch. In 1998, Susan Auch placed second behind Le May Doan on the 500 m. Leading up to the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Le May Doan was coached by Sean Ireland.[3]
Le May Doan repeated her gold medal in the 500m at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. She became the first Canadian to defend their gold medal at the Olympics.[4][5]
Le May Doan retired from competitive skating in 2003. She was a commentator for theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation during the2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and was a member of the official Canadian contingent whenVancouver was chosen as the site of the2010 Winter Olympics. She is a popular motivational speaker, and has been involved withCampus Crusade for Christ'sPower to Change campaign.[citation needed]
In 2005, Le May Doan was made an Officer of theOrder of Canada, and inducted into theCanadian Sports Hall of Fame.[6][7]
Le May Doan providedcolour commentary for theCBC during the2006 Winter Olympics for speed skating. She was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008[8] and was also a colour commentator forCTV at the2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver. She was one of four torchbearers selected to light the interior cauldron inBC Place at theopening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics. She was subsequently left out of the lighting when one of the arms to light the cauldron failed to rise due to mechanical problems.[9] This was remediated as part of the opening segment of theclosing ceremonies when she lit the fourth arm of the cauldron.
In November 2020, it was announced that Le May Doan would be the chef de mission for Team Canada at the2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[10]
In June 2023, Le May Doan was appointed Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Calgary.[citation needed]
Le May Doan was married to Bart Doan. They separated in 2017. She has two children, Greta and Easton.[citation needed]
In 2002, Le May Doan published anautobiography,Going for Gold.
|
|
| Distance | Result | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 m | 37.22 | Calgary | 9 December 2001 |
| 1,000 m | 1:14.50 | Salt Lake City | 10 March 2001 |
| 1,500 m | 1:57.50 | Calgary | 16 March 2001 |
| 3,000 m | 4:26.98 | Calgary | 21 March 2003 |
| 5,000 m | 8:14.52 | Calgary | 19 December 1993 |
| Olympic Games | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Final Olympic torchbearer Vancouver 2010 With:Steve Nash,Nancy Greene, andWayne Gretzky | Succeeded by Callum Airlie, Jordan Duckitt,Desiree Henry, Katie Kirk, Cameron MacRitchie, Aidan Reynolds, andAdelle Tracey |
| Preceded by | Final Winter Olympic torchbearer Vancouver 2010 With:Steve Nash,Nancy Greene, andWayne Gretzky | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
