Chandra Crawford

Olympic gold medallist Chandra Crawford was born and raised in Canmore, Alta., with endless opportunities to hike, bike, run, kayak, climb, camp and ski in the Rocky Mountains.

Her well-rounded upbringing also included piano, choir, French immersion, drama classes and playing saxophone in concert and jazz bands.

In 2006, at age 22, Chandra won the Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing and captured hearts when she belted out the national anthem from the top step of the podium. On the start line of the 1.1-kilometre sprint race final, the CBC announcer pointed out her big smile, saying, “This young lady is having a blast and showing it.” Over her career, she made seven trips to the World Cup podium, including two victories in 2008.

Chandra missed most of the 2008–09 season — including all World Cup races — when she required surgery for compartment syndrome in her shins, but returned to compete for Team Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in the classic sprint and relay. After competing at the Sochi 2014 test event, she ended her 2012–13 season early — skipping the world championships — to recover physically and mentally ahead of the Olympic season.

In 2005, before qualifying for her first Olympics, Chandra founded Fast and Female, an organization dedicated to empowering girls in sport. With the help of hundreds of athlete ambassadors, it has reached more than 20,000 participants ages eight to 18 across North America. Fast and Female is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to keep girls healthy and active in sport.

In March 2014, Chandra retired from ski racing after three Olympics and 13 years on the Canadian cross-country national team. In 2016, she graduated from the University of Calgary’s executive MBA program.

Her interests include yoga, camping, dancing, reading, languages, eating seafood, concerts and any kind of mountain adventure with her husband, Jared, and their children, Kyla, Bruce and Margot, along with their dog, Stella. In August 2021, the family welcomed their fourth child.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 2005 – Founded Fast and Female, a registered Canadian charity dedicated to empowering girls in sport, reaching more than 20,000 participants ages eight to 18 across North America
• 2006 – Olympic gold medallist, 1.1 km sprint, Turin Winter Games; first Olympic appearance
• 2008 – Won two World Cup races; seven career World Cup podium finishes between 2005 and 2010
• 2010 – Competed in classic sprint and relay at Vancouver Winter Games
• 2012–13 – Competed in Sochi 2014 test event; ended season early to prepare for Olympic year
• 2014 – Third Olympic appearance; retired from competitive skiing in March after 13 years with the Canadian cross-country national team
• 2016 – Graduated from the University of Calgary’s executive MBA program
• 2018 – Inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

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.