May 02, 2013 (Yellowknife, NWT) – Shirley Firth Larsson, a veteran of four Winter Olympics, succumbed to cancer on Tuesday at age 59. She died at home in Yellowknife, NWT, surrounded by family and friends. Firth Larsson, a member of the Gwich’in First Nation, along her twin sister, Sharon Firth, were the first aboriginal women to represent Canada in cross-country skiing.

Sharon (l) and Shirley Firth © courtesy of CCC

The two sisters participated in four Olympics: in 1972 at Sapporo, Japan; in 1976 at Innsbruck, Austria; in 1980 at Lake Placid, New York, USA; and in 1984 at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

Among her accomplishments, Firth Larsson won 42 Canadian national championship medals (29 gold, 10 silver & 3 bronze) and was also inducted into the Order of Canada in 1987. She is survived by her husband, Jan Larsson, and three daughters.

Shirley Firth Larsson © courtesy of CCC

“I remember a WC trip Shirley and I did – just the two of us to Furtwanen, Germany – not a very big support group (just me) and I ran my butt off all over that loop as Shirley was having a really good race,” commented Marty Hall, a former XC Ski Head Coach for both the U.S.A. and Canada.

“I think I was more tired than she was – she was happy after the race coming in 9th. Into the car right after the race we high-tailed it to Zurich to catch the plane back to Canada.

At Rideau Hall after first European trip in 1969 (l-r): Anita Allen, Sharon Firth, Roger Allen, Fred Kelly, John Turo, David Cook, Harold Cook, Bjorger Pettersen, Roseanne Allen, Prime Minister Trudeau and Shirley Firth. © courtesy of Bjorger Pettersen

“The two broke barriers that no other Canadian skiers before even came close to and it took 20 years for people to set new personal and Canadian bests after they were done. The number of Canadian National Championships they’ve won will stand for ever – never to be beaten by Canadians of the future,” commented Hall.

(l-r) Linda Dunbar, Sharon Firth, Brendan Green, Shirley Firth, Rosanna Crawford © courtessy of CCC

Shirley and her sister were known the world over their xc ski accomplishments and their rich legacy will be felt for years to come. “It was fitting that the sisters had time to be together over these last few years – a chance to talk, remember and re-live the past and those special days,” added Hall.

SkiTrax joins the Nordic community in extending condolences to the family and friends of Shirley Firth Larsson.

Cross country Canada release HERE.
CBC North article HERE.
Native Communications Society of the NWT HERE.
Pavlina Surdrich blog entry on Shirley Firth HERE.
Canadian Ski Museum Hall of Fame HERE.
Canada Games archived content HERE.