Beckie Scott

Three-time Olympian Beckie Scott retired in 2006, capping nearly two decades of competitive cross-country ski racing as Canada’s most successful cross-country skier and one of the world’s best all-around cross-country racers.

Scott was a trailblazer for nordic sports in Canada from the moment she joined the country’s national program in 1994. During her 11-year career she re-wrote the Canadian record books, winning two Olympic medals – a gold medal in the five-kilometre pursuit race at the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games and a silver medal with teammate Sara Renner in the team sprint event at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games – as well as 15 World Cup medals, among her other achievements.

Her career accomplishments off the snow are equally impressive. Scott’s pursuit of justice around her 2002 Olympic gold medal was a triumph for athletes’ rights and fair play. She is also a tireless advocate for drug-free sport, and is currently Canada's representative on the World Anti-Doping Agency's newly formed Athlete Committee.

During the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Scott’s peers elected her to the IOC Athletes’ Commission for an eight-year term. She also serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and the Trans-Canada trail.

Scott joined Right To Play as an Athlete Ambassador in January 2003 and is now also a co-chair of its Canadian advisory council. In addition, she was named a UNICEF Canada special representative and in the spring of 2003 travelled to West Africa with UNICEF as part of its "Girl's Education" campaign. In recognition of her numerous achievements, Scott has twice been the recipient of the John Semmelink Memorial Award (2002, 2003). She was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Born in Vegreville, Alberta, Scott attended the University of Waterloo. When off the trails, she enjoys reading and cooking and is also a competitive swimmer. The longtime Albertan and her husband now make their home in Panorama, BC and Bend, Oregon.