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Hall of Famer

Anne Heggtveit Hamilton

Affiliated Discipline(s): Alpine
Hometown: Ottawa, ON / Vermont, USA
Active Career Period: 1948-1962
Induction CSHF: 1982
Induction Category: Athlete
Anne Heggtveit. Photo Malak Karsh.

Anne Heggtveit first strapped into skis at age two, cutting her teeth on the slopes of Camp Fortune, where she would later see one of the double-black-diamond trails named for her. 

At age 7, on January 6, 1947, she claimed her first race victory, winning the Ladies’ Senior Slalom and Combined at Wakefield, Que. That same year, and again in 1948 and ’49, she served as a forerunner in the Ladies’ International Downhill and Slalom at Lake Placid, N.Y. 

Short one athlete for the Canadian national team roster, she was invited to join at just age 9—an unusually early selection in Canadian skiing. Over the next years, she climbed through junior and senior ranks, earning victories in Quebec, Ontario, and in European competition, culminating in a historic 1960 season in which she became the first Canadian to win Olympic gold in slalom at Squaw Valley, and at the same time captured FIS gold medals in slalom and alpine combined. 

Her margin of victory in the Olympic slalom—3.3 seconds ahead of silver and 7 seconds ahead of bronze—remains among the largest ever recorded.

In 1976 Anne received the Order of Canada for her achievements.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • 1948 – 2nd Ladies’ Slalom, Central Canadian Championships.
  • 1949 – 1st Junior Ladies’ Slalom and Combined, Huntsville, Ont.
  • 1951 – 1st Ladies’ Junior “C” Class, Taschereau Downhill, Que.; 6th Downhill, 5th Slalom, 6th Combined, U.S. Nationals (age 12).
  • 1952 – 1st Ontario Ladies’ Junior Downhill, Slalom and Combined, Sudbury, Ont.; 1st Ottawa Ski Club Senior Ladies Downhill, Slalom and Combined, Ottawa, Ont.
  • 1953 – 1st Canadian Junior Downhill, Slalom and Combined, Fort William, Ont.
  • 1954 – Won Giant Slalom, Holmenkollen, Norway (age 15); 9th Downhill, 7th Slalom, World Championships, Åre, Sweden.
  • 1956 – Competed at Winter Olympics, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; top North American at Arlberg-Kandahar, Sestriere, Italy.
  • 1958 – 3rd International Giant Slalom, Saalfelden, Austria; 6th Alpine Combined, FIS World Championships, Bad Gastein, Austria.
  • 1959 – 1st Slalom and Alpine Combined, St. Moritz, Switzerland; 1st Alpine Combined, Arlberg-Kandahar, Germany; 1st Downhill and Slalom, Canadian Championships, Mont Orford, Que.
  • 1960 – Gold Medal Slalom, Olympic Winter Games, Squaw Valley, Calif.; FIS Gold Medal Slalom and Alpine Combined; Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s Outstanding Athlete.
  • 1976 – Named Member, Order of Canada (C.M.).

Note: Information compiled from several sources; may not include all accomplishments. © Canadian Ski Museum & Hall of Fame. For personal/educational use only. All rights reserved.

Anne Heggtveit. c. 1947.
Anne Heggtveit. c. 1947. Photo C. F. Quick.
Anne Heggtveit. c. 1947
Anne Heggtveit. c. 1947. Photo C. F. Quick.
Anne Heggtveit
Anne Heggtveit. CSHFM Collection.
Anne Heggtveit
Anne Heggtveit. CSHFM Collection.
One pair of children's skis used by Anne Heggtveit when she was 2 years old. These skis were hand made for her by Bruce Heggtveit.
One pair of children’s skis used by Anne Heggtveit when she was 2 years old. These skis were hand made for her by Bruce Heggtveit. CSHFM Collection.
c. 1947. Photo of Anne Heggtveit possibly at the Kate Smith Trophy Race.
c. 1947. Photo of Anne Heggtveit possibly at the Kate Smith Trophy Race. CSHFM Collection.
c. 1947. Anne Heggtveit possibly at Kate Smith Trophy race.

c. 1947. Anne Heggtveit possibly at Kate Smith Trophy race. CSHFM Collection.

c. 1947. Photo of Anne Heggtveit possibly at the Kate Smith Trophy Race. CSHFM Collection.

Anne Heggtveit c. 1947

Anne Heggtveit c. 1947. CSHFM Collection.

9 year old Anne Heggtveit and 11 year old Lucile Wheeler (right) at Lake Placid, NY, USA, for Kate Smith race in 1947.
9 year old Anne Heggtveit and 11 year old Lucile Wheeler (right) at Lake Placid, NY, USA, for Kate Smith race in 1947. CSHFM Collection.
Art Tommy (far right) and Anne Heggtveit (2nd from left)

Art Tommy (far right) and Anne Heggtveit (2nd from left). CSHFM Collection.

Anne Heggtveit in the Laurentians, QC.
Anne Heggtveit in the Laurentians, QC. Canadian Pacific Railway.
1958 World Championships [L to R]: Anne Heggtveit, Pepi Salvenmoser, Lucile Wheeler.

1958 World Championships [L to R]: Anne Heggtveit, Pepi Salvenmoser, Lucile Wheeler. Photo Gastuna Badgastein.

Sidney Dawes (2nd from left), Canada's representative on the International Olympic Committee, at 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California, USA
Anne Heggtveit receiving her gold medal her gold medal from A. Sidney Dawes (2nd from left), Canada’s representative on the International Olympic Committee, at 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California, USA. National Sport & Recreation Center.
Gold medallist Anne Heggtveit attending reception in Ottawa, ON, following the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympic Winter Games.

Gold medallist Anne Heggtveit attending reception in Ottawa, ON, following the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympic Winter Games. Photo Ted Grant.

Anne Heggtveit receiving Life Membership from Ottawa Ski Club (OSC) President McHugh on February 22 (?), 1955. CSHFM Collection.

Members of Canadian Ski Team [L to R]: Bill Stevens, Ernie McCullogh, Art Tommy, Pat Ramage (manager), Anne Heggtveit, Peter Kirby c. 1954
Members of Canadian Ski Team [L to R]: Bill Stevens, Ernie McCullogh, Art Tommy, Pat Ramage (manager), Anne Heggtveit, Peter Kirby c. 1954. Trans Canada Airlines.

1954 Canadian Alpine ski team [L to R]: Pepi Salvenmoser (coach), Peter Kirby, Lucile Wheeler, Ernie McCullogh, Anne Heggtveit, Pat Ramage (manager), Bill Stevens & Art Tommy. The sign in the background reads “Welcome to Hotel Grannen” where the team stayed during the FIS World Championships, Are, Sweden. Gillsater R. Portage.

[L to R]: Anne Heggtveit, unidentified member of press, Lucile Wheeler, Pat Ramage.

[L to R]: Anne Heggtveit, unidentified member of press, Lucile Wheeler, Pat Ramage. Alpine Canada Alpin.

One pair of 'Kastle' skis used by Anne Heggtveit at 1960 Winter Olympic Games at Squaw Valley, USA where she won the Gold medal in the Slalom event. She also won the FIS gold medal for slalom as well as the FIS gold medal Alpine Combined events.
One pair of ‘Kastle’ skis used by Anne Heggtveit at 1960 Winter Olympic Games at Squaw Valley, USA where she won the Gold medal in the Slalom event. She also won the FIS gold medal for slalom as well as the FIS gold medal Alpine Combined events. CSHFM Collection.
Close-up Anne Heggtveit at 1960 Winter Olympic Games at Squaw Valley, USA
Close-up of a ‘Kastle’ ski used by Anne Heggtveit at 1960 Winter Olympic Games at Squaw Valley, USA where she won the Gold medal in the Slalom event. She also won the FIS gold medal for slalom as well as the FIS gold medal Alpine Combined events. CSHFM Collection.

Official opening of the Canadian Ski Museum on Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON, May 10, 1971 [L to R]: Jackrabbit, Lucile Wheeler, Anne Heggtveit, Betsy Clifford. Dominion Wide Photos.

National Alpine Ski Team at 1958 World Championships in Badgastein, Austria. Pictured are Anne Heggtveit (2nd from left) and John Semmelink (left).

National Alpine Ski Team at 1958 World Championships in Badgastein, Austria. Pictured are Anne Heggtveit (2nd from left) and John Semmelink (left). Photo Gastuna Badgastein.

1990 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony [top row, L to R]: Joan Earl, Kaye Vaughn, Pepi Salvenmoser, Ross Hamilton. [bottom row, L to R]: Pat Ramage, Anne Heggtveit-Hamilton, Lucile Wheeler-Vaughn, Cristl Salvenmoser. CSHFM Collection.

Alpine Canada Alpin 100 Year Episode 1 | AlpineCanadaAlpin

To celebrate our 100th anniversary, we’re exploring the most iconic moments in Canadian ski history. In episode one, we spotlight Lucile Wheeler, Anne Heggtveit and Nancy Greene – three women who helped pave the path for generations of Canadian skiers and who made their own World Championship history.

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