Barbara Ann Scott Dies at 84

Canada lost its only female figure skating gold medalist when Barbara Ann Scott died at the age of 84 on Sunday.

Scott, who won gold in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland, passed away at her Amelia Island home in Florida. The cause of death is not yet known. Dubbed “Canada’s Sweetheart,” Scott won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete in 1945, 1947, and 1948.

“Barbara Ann set the standard for generations of female athletes and women skaters who came after her,” said Skate Canada president Benoît Lavoie in a statement. “The discipline and focus that she learned early in her career were the foundation of her success, as Canadian, North American, European, World and Olympic Champion.”

Scott was born in Ottawa in 1928 and started skating at seven years of age at the Minto Club. She won a national junior title at 12 and won the national senior title for the first time at 15. She won that title three more times in her career.

Scott overcame a lot of adversity to win gold in 1948. The ice surface was filled with nicks and holes after two hockey games played earlier in the day, which forced Scott to alter her routine. She scaled back a number of her planned jumps within the four-minute program and came away with seven of the nine first place votes.

That success boosted her popularity across Canada. Prime Minister Mackenzie King praised her achievements and she soon became a national icon. The Barbara Ann Scott Doll was introduced after her gold medal win and remains a hot commodity among collectors. She was also featured on the cover of Time magazine, penned two books, and was rated as one North America’s top equestriennes after she retired from skating.

While she spent most of her time living in the United States after she retired, Scott remained a prominent figure in Canadian athletics. “She remained so connected to the sport, and to Canada after her own career was over,” said Lavoie. “Every time she attended our events, she inspired our skaters and encouraged them to pursue their dreams.”

Scott was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1955 and into the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1991. She also became an officer of the Order of Canada in 1991 and was inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. Scott was one of the first Canadians to carry the Olympic torch for the Calgary Winter Games in 1988.

Scott is survived by her husband Tom King, whom she married in 1955 at age 25.

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