Lauren Woolstencroft

At the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Lauren Woolstencroft became the first Canadian Winter Paralympian to win five gold medals at a single Games, earning the honour of carrying Canada’s flag at the closing ceremony. She also competed at the 2002 and 2006 Games and retired after 2010 with a total of 10 Paralympic medals — eight gold, one silver and one bronze.

Born missing both legs below the knee and her left arm below the elbow, Lauren started skiing at age four during a family holiday in Whitefish, Mont. By 14 she was racing with the Alberta Disabled Ski Team and later joined the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team (CPAST), where she competed from 1998 until her retirement in 2010. Over her career she amassed more than 60 World Cup medals and eight world championship titles.

Her achievements continued to resonate after her retirement. Lauren was named one of the most influential women of 2010 by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) and was listed in The Globe and Mail’s “Power 50” in 2011. She was inducted into the Alberta, B.C. and Canadian Sports Halls of Fame in 2011 and into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame the same year. She received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 2016 for her contributions to Paralympic sport.

Lauren also joined CBC’s broadcast team for the 2014 and 2018 Paralympic Games and was featured in Toyota’s global “Start Your Impossible” campaign. Her “Good Odds” commercial aired during the 2018 Super Bowl, the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Winter Games.

Off the slopes, Lauren is an electrical engineer and a founding member of ViaSport, the non-profit agency leading the transformation of amateur sport in B.C. Born and raised in Calgary, she now lives in Squamish, B.C., with her husband Derek and son Maxwell.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 2002 — Competed at the Salt Lake City Paralympic Winter Games
• 2006 — Competed at the Turin Paralympic Winter Games
• 2010 — Won a record five gold medals at the Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games; became Canada’s most decorated Winter Paralympian; flag-bearer at closing ceremony
• 1998–2010 — Member, Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team; more than 60 World Cup medals and eight world championship titles
• 2011 — Inducted into the Alberta, British Columbia and Canadian Sports Halls of Fame; inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame
• 2012 — Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
• 2014 & 2018 — Paralympic Games broadcaster for CBC
• 2016 — Received the Meritorious Service Medal for contributions to Paralympic sport
• Other — Featured in Toyota’s “Start Your Impossible” campaign; electrical engineer; founding member of ViaSport; mother and community leader

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.