Hall of Famer
Shirley Firth-Larsson
Affiliated Discipline(s):
Cross-country
Date of Birth / Death:
1953 - 2013
Hometown:
Inuvik, N.W.T.
Active Career Period:
1968 - 1984
Induction CSHF:
1990
Induction Category:
Cross-country
Shirley Firth, together with her twin sister, Sharon, were the product of a pioneering program to introduce skiing to Canada’s original peoples (First Nation and Inuit). Her career was an outstanding testimony to the dedication displayed by her in achieving a level of excellence very rarely attained by any athlete in this country.
Both Shirley and her sister were members of Canada’s national cross-country team for an unprecedented 17-consecutive years competing on the World Cup circuit. Between them, they won 79 medals at a variety of racing distances at the national championships and competed in four winter Olympic Games, in 1972 at Sapporo, Japan, in 1976 at Innsbruck, Austria, in 1980 at Lake Placid, New York, USA, and in 1984 at Sarajevo, Jugoslavia.
Shirley Firth was voted Canadian Women’s Nordic Skier of the Year six times by Ski Racing Magazine. She and her sister were the subjects of a CBC Documentary entitled The Olympians: The Firth Sisters. After marrying, Shirley Firth settled in Europe for over 20 years, receiving a teaching diploma in 2002 from the University of Paris. While there, she lectured on Dene and Inuit cultures at various universities, schools and cultural centers in central Europe and Scandinavia. Shirley Firth was awarded the Order of Canada in 1987, was inducted into the Canadian Ski Museum and Skiing Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. She later returned to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Olympic Highlights
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | Pos |
| 1972 Winter Olympics | Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) | |
| 5 kilometres, Women (Olympic) | 35 | |
| 3 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) | 10 | |
| 1976 Winter Olympics | Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) | |
| 5 kilometres, Women (Olympic) | 27 | |
| 10 kilometres, Women (Olympic) | 29 | |
| 4 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) | 7 | |
| 1980 Winter Olympics | Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) | |
| 5 kilometres, Women (Olympic) | 28 | |
| 10 kilometres, Women (Olympic) | 24 | |
| 4 × 5 kilometres Relay, Women (Olympic) | 8 | |
| 1984 Winter Olympics | Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) | |
| 5 kilometres, Women (Olympic) | 28 | |
| 10 kilometres, Women (Olympic) | 22 | |
| 20 kilometres, Women (Olympic) | 25 |
Please Note: The ski information gathered here is compiled from a number of sources; it may not be inclusive of all accomplishments.
Copyright © 2021, Canadian Ski Museum. For Personal/Educational use only. All Rights Reserved.
Shirley Firth in cross country relay race at 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games. Canadian Ski Association.
Shirley Firth at 1969 World Ski Championships. CSHFM Collection.
Shirley and Sharon Firth c. 1969. Photo Guy Savard.
Sharon and Shirley Firth. CSHFM Collection.
Sharon and Shirley Firth. Canadian Ski Association.
Canadian Olympic cross country team at 1972 Olympic Winter Games in Sapporo, JPN [L to R]: Helen Sander, Roseanne Allen, Sharon Firth, Shirley Firth, Bjorger Pettersen (coach), Roger Allen, Jarl Omholt-Jensen, Malcolm Hunter, Fred Kelly. CSHFM Collection.
Rhoda Wurtele, Shirley Firth, Sharon Firth, and Rhona Wurtele at 1990 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
Inductees Sharon and Shirley Firth with Allen Warren, a director of the Canadian Ski Museum, at the 1990 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
Sharon and Shirley Firth with Canadian Ski Museum Chair, Erle Bergh, at 1990 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
Sharon and Shirley Firth with Canadian Ski Museum Chair, Erle Bergh, at 1990 Canadian Ski Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. CSHFM Collection.
2015 Honoured Member: Sharon Firth - Cross-country Skiing | Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
2015 Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Induction Vignette | Sharon Firth (Shirley's twin sister)
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