December 28, 2018 (Ottawa, Ont.) – Canadian cross-country ski legend and Olympic champion, Beckie Scott, has been named an officer of the Order of Canada. Scott was among 103 new appointments announced on Dec. 27 by Governor Geneneral, Julie Payette. Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honours.

“The magnitude of receiving such a distinguished award is almost indescribable, and I could not be more honoured to join the ranks of such accomplished Canadians. I feel tremendously grateful to have been born in Canada and thus afforded all the opportunities this country has to offer,” said Scott.

Scott won Olympic gold at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City with a historic stunning performance to secure the first Olympic medal won by any North American athlete in cross-country skiing. She initially won bronze but when the first and second place finishers were disqualified for using performance-enhancing drugs, Scott was awarded her gold medal two-and-a-half years after the competition. “From being able to pursue my own hopes and dreams as an elite ski racer, to the pursuit of a level-playing field and justice for clean athletes, to now offering sport for development to Indigenous children and youth, I have been fortunate to find paths and journeys that have been challenging but deeply inspiring,” commented Scott, who dedicated the honour to her father Walter.

“My father was an immigrant to Canada, but without question the proudest Canadian I knew. He would have been profoundly moved to know I was receiving this award and so, I dedicate this to him and his indomitable spirit,” added Scott.

The Alberta native was born in Vegreville, Alberta, but grew up in Vermilion, Alberta. She began cross-country skiing at the age of five and entered her first competition at age seven. She competed in three Olympic Games beginning at Nagano, Japan in 1998. She won gold four years later at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics in the 10km Pursuit, and silver in the Team Sprint in Turin, Italy, at the 2006 Olympics.

She was elected as an athlete member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2005 and since retiring in 2006, she has been a tireless advocate of clean sport as a member of the athlete committee at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and later as a member of WADA’s Foundation Board. In 2012 she was appointed to WADA’s Executive Committee and in 2014 was appointed as Chair of the WADA Athlete Committee. She recently resigned her post on the Executive Committee after vocally opposing WADA’s move to end the Russian Anti-Doping Agency suspension.

“We can’t think of anyone more deserving than our champion and trailblazer on and off the snow,” said Cross Country Canada via social media congratulating Scott.

She has also dedicated much of her life to charitable efforts including working with organizations such as UNICEF and Right to Play as well as with First Nations youth.

Through her organization Spirit North, Scott reaches thousands of youth from 35 Indigenous communities in Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba. The group’s goal is “…improving the health and well-being of Indigenous youth through the transformative power of cross-country skiing, sport and play.”

Scott was also inducted to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (2007), the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame (2011), the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (2012), and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. She and the other 102 Order of Canada appointees were revealed in Ottawa at Rideau Hall, and will be honoured during a ceremony to be held at a later date.

SkiTrax joins the ski community around the globe in congratulating Scott on this special honour and her stellar career.