Angela CHALMERS-ESPINOZA

Of half-Scottish, half-First Nations ancestry, Angela Chalmers entered the Canadian spotlight in 1981 by winning silver medals in the 800 and 1,500 metre events at the Canada Games. She was an eight-time All-American at Northern Arizona University, but failed to qualify for the 1984 Summer Olympics and had to wait until 1985 to make her début on the international stage. At that year’s Summer Universiade she won a bronze medal in the 3,000 metres and followed this up by winning silver in the event at the 1987 Pan American Games. She represented Canada in the 1,500 and 3,000 at the 1988 Summer Olympics, but was eliminated in round one of the former and placed 14th in the latter.

Chalmers’ best years came in the 1990s, beginning with victories in the 1,500 and 3,000 at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Two years later, at the 1992 Summer Olympics, she captured bronze in the 3,000 and was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 1,500, an event in which she would finish fifth at the 1993 World Championships. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, where Chalmers carried Canada’s flag in the opening ceremony, she defended her 3,000 title in style, not only winning the event, but setting Commonwealth and Canadian national records in the process. She continued to compete after this tournament, coming in fourth in the 1,500 at the 1995 World Championships, and was slated to run in the 1,500 and 5,000 at the 1996 Summer Olympics, but was sidelined by a leg injury and left unable to participate. She retired from active competition in 1997 and was made a member of the Manitoba and British Columbia Sports Halls of Fame in 2001 and 2004 respectively.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 4:01.61 (1994); 3000 – 8:32.17 (1994).