Sharon Firth (born 31 December 1953) is a Canadian former cross-country skier who competed in the Winter Olympics in

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...

and

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

. Firth's mother was Gwich'in and her father was Métis. She and her sister grew up in the Gwich'in First Nation. She is the twin sister of fellow ski team member Shirley Firth. They became the first indigenous women to be awarded the

Order of Sport The Order of Sport is a national level award established in 2019 by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. It is awarded alongside induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and regarded as Canada's highest sporting honour. Overview Canada’s Sp ...

, marking their induction into

Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (; sometimes referred to as the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame) is a Canadian sports hall of fame and museum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dedicated to the history of sports in Canada, it serves as a hall of fame and mu ...

in 2015. Firth received a

National Aboriginal Achievement Award The Indspire Awards, until 2012 the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, are annual awards presented by Indspire in Canada. The awards are intended to celebrate and encourage excellence in the Aboriginal community in Canada. About The award ...

in the sports category in 2005. Sharon Firth also received the John Semmelink Memorial Award in 1972, the Commissioner’s Award in 1981, the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

in 1987, and the

Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal may refer to: * Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal (1887) * Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal () or the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal creat ...

in 2002. In 1990, Firth was inducted into the Canadian Ski Museum and Skiing Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the NWT Sport Hall of Fame in 2012. From 1968 to 1985, Sharon and Shirley Firth were both members of Canada’s national cross-country team. They were the first female Indigenous athletes to compete for Canada in the Winter Olympic Games. The twins obtained a total of 79 medals at the national championships.

Training

Sharon and Shirley Firth participated in the fledgling Territorial Experimental Ski Training (TEST) Program, established by Father Jean Marie Mouchet and funding from Pierre Trudeau's Federal Government in 1965. The program began in Old Crow, Yukon, and eventually expanded to include Inuvik, run out of Groller Hall Residential School, where the sisters attended school. "They didn't have an easy upbringing and were very timid when they first came. Of all the skiers I had they were the most competitive and determined. In Inuvik we often skied at forty-five below zero; their lungs were used to cold weather." - Coach Bjorger Pettersen

Life after skiing

Following Sharon Firth’s cross-country skiing career, she moved to

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Yellowknife is the capital, largest community, and the only city in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, about south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of t ...

. Firth worked for the government of the Northwest Territories and became a Youth Program Advisor.

Honours

Firth was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the

University of Alberta The University of Alberta (also known as U of A or UAlberta, ) is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta, and Henry Marshall Tory, t ...

in 2017 with the help from Patrick Reid. She was made a member of the

Order of the Northwest Territories The Order of the Northwest Territories is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian territory of the Northwest Territories. Instituted in 2013, it is the highest honour which can be bestowed by the Government of the Northwest Territories. It is ...

in 2018. She was awarded the Member of the Order of Canada (CM) as per the Canada Gazette of 26 December 1987.Canada Gazette 26 December 1987

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Olympic Games

World Championships

World Cup

Season standings

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Firth, Sharon 1953 births Living people 20th-century First Nations people 21st-century First Nations people Canadian female cross-country skiers Cross-country skiers at the 1972 Winter Olympics Cross-country skiers at the 1976 Winter Olympics Cross-country skiers at the 1980 Winter Olympics Cross-country skiers at the 1984 Winter Olympics First Nations sportspeople Indspire Awards Olympic cross-country skiers for Canada People from Aklavik Sportspeople from the Northwest Territories Members of the Order of the Northwest Territories Canadian twins 20th-century Canadian sportswomen Canadian Gwich'in people