In honour of the upcoming Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations presented by Canadian Tire on October 22, OLM will be featuring inductees—recent and historic—in a weekly Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile piece.
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame aims to share the stories and achievements of Honoured Members to inspire Canadians in all aspects of life.
Pierre Harvey: Athlete, Cross-Country Skiing
Few Canadian athletes can say they have been to the Olympics. Even a smaller percentage can say they have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Pierre Harvey is one of these great Canadian athletes.
Between cycling and cross-country skiing, Harvey became a dual-sport athlete and an icon for Canadians. At the 1986 Canadian National Championships, Harvey became the first cross-country skier to win all four events: 30 km Classic, 15 km Classic, 3×10 km Freestyle and 50 km Freestyle. He went on to make history in 1987 when he became the first Canadian to win an international cross-country event in Sweden. With other numerous medals and races behind him, Harvey retired in 1989 after completing a total of 50 Cross-Country Ski World Cup events.
However, none of this would be possible without the passion and determination Harvey showed for sport. Not only did Harvey focus on his potential in athletics, but continues to actively work and grow cross-country skiing for other athletes. Today, Harvey is an ambassador who inspires young athletes to reach for their dreams. One such athlete is his son Alex Harvey, an Olympic cross-country skier. His passion is infectious!
Harvey’s hard work and love for sport will help cross-country skiers across Canada develop as athletes. He made sure of this when he helped create the Centre National d’Entertainment Pierre Harvey in Quebec, one of only four National Development centres for cross-country skiing. The centre has produced numerous Canadian World Cup competitors.
With Harvey’s induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, Harvey will be able to pass on his enthusiasm to skiers and cyclists for generations to come!
