Karen Percy-Lowe

Karen Percy was one of Canada’s most decorated alpine skiers of the 1980s, capturing two Olympic medals at Calgary 1988 and earning national hero status.

At the height of her career, Karen ranked among the top women’s alpine skiers in the world. A double medallist at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, she also placed fourth in downhill and third in combined standings on the World Cup circuit that same year.

Her first major success came at age 15, when she finished second in downhill and fifth in giant slalom at the 1981 Canadian juvenile championships at Fortress Mountain, Alta. Named to the Canadian women’s national alpine team in 1984, she earned her first international win in a Europa Cup downhill at Val Zoldana, Italy.

Karen was entered in all five alpine disciplines for her Olympic debut at Calgary 1988 but started in only three. A hometown favourite and competing just four weeks after thumb surgery, she delivered under pressure. On Day 7 of the Games at Nakiska, she won Canada’s first medal—a bronze in downhill—becoming a national hero. Three days later, she added another bronze in super-G, making her Canada’s first double medallist in skiing since Nancy Greene in 1968.

She retired from the national team in August 1990 after a standout career that included 107 World Cup races with 25 top-10 finishes, seven consecutive Canadian national championship appearances (1983–1989), and four world championships—including a silver medal in downhill in 1989.

A graduate of Banff Community High School, Karen married former Edmonton Oilers player and NHL executive Kevin Lowe after retiring from competition. Together they raised four children, including one NHL draft pick.

Karen has remained active in community and charity work, supporting organizations such as the Waterkeeper Alliance—serving as president of North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper—as well as Compassion House, the Zebra Foundation and the Go Centre. During the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, she worked as a broadcast analyst for women’s alpine skiing for Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.

She was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1988 and received the Olympic Champion Award at the 1989 Tribute to the Champions gala. She was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Banff Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Career Highlights

• 1984 – 5th, Europa Cup downhill, Puy-Saint-Vincent, France; 3rd, Europa Cup super-G, Verbier, Switzerland; 2nd and 1st, Europa Cup downhill, Val Zoldana, Italy
• 1985 – 2nd, slalom, Canadian championships
• 1986 – 3rd, World Cup downhill, Banff, Alta.; 1st, Canadian championships super-G and downhill, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que.
• 1987 – 4th, World Cup super-G, Leukerbad, Switzerland; 2nd, Canadian championships super-G and downhill, Rossland, B.C.
• 1988 – 2nd, World Cup downhill, Zinal, Switzerland; bronze, Olympic downhill, Calgary, Alta.; bronze, Olympic super-G, Calgary, Alta.; 4th, Olympic combined, Calgary, Alta.; 5th, World Cup downhill, Rossland, B.C.; 1st, Canadian championships giant slalom and super-G, Panorama, B.C.
• 1989 – 5th, World Cup giant slalom, Schwarzenberg, Austria; 4th (tie), World Cup downhill, Lake Louise, Alta.; 1st, Canadian championships giant slalom, Lake Louise, Alta.

Note: The information gathered in this biography was compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments. Copyright © Canadian Ski Hall of Fame & Museum. For personal and/or educational use only. All rights reserved.