Fiona SMITH

Defenseman Fiona Smith joined the Canadian national women’s ice hockey team in 1996 and accompanied them to the 1997 World Championships, where the squad captured the gold medal. Her next stop was the 1998 Winter Olympics, where she suited up for six matches, scored one goal, and took home a silver medal in the first official women’s ice hockey tournament at the Games. After suffering from a whiplash injury she sat out many of the games at the 1999 World Championships, but managed to get some ice time and help Canada win its fifth consecutive gold medal from the tournament. She did not skate, however, during their 2000 or 2001 World Championship victories and was also cut from the Olympic team, which led her to retire from active play in 2001. Outside of the national team she had also suited up with the Edmonton Chimos of the Western Women’s Hockey League. Since retiring from active play she has used her status as a world champion and Olympic medalist to speak and volunteer for charitable causes and, in 2009, she was named a Royal Bank of Canada Olympian for her efforts and given a sponsorship to be guided towards helping ease the financial burdens of active Olympic athletes.