Sarah Burke
Induction Award:
Sarah Burke is one of Canada's renowned winter sport athletes. From her rural roots and small ski hills to the world stage, Sarah represented her country and her discipline as a freestyle skier, with passion. What Sarah did to gain such national and international credit was far more than her enormous talent in the Women's Freestyle Skiing world. It was her influence and tenacity to lobby the ESPN X Games and the International Olympic Committee to include women in the half pipe and Superpipe competition, in their own event. The ESPN X Games was the first to start a new category of Women's Superpipe followed by the IOC launching during the Sochi Olympics. Sarah was deemed the "Best In The World" in her sport. Sarah proved she could not only compete with the men, but she could beat them too. Later in the newly formed Women's division, she would claim a gold in the half pipe in 2005, Silver in the Superpipe in 2005 followed by five gold Superpipe medals from 2007 through 2011. In 2012 while practicing for the Olympics in Sochi, Sarah had a tragic accident that would claim her life at 29. Sarah was married and left behind, a husband, her parents and her sister. The impact of Sarah's untimely death was felt around the world, her teammates, competitors, friends and worldwide fan base would never forget her spirit on and off the hills. Sarah Burke's legacy will live on for generations to come.
Member Details:
Category: Athlete
Year of Induction: 2021
Sport(s): SuperPipe
Nominator: Douglas Jackson
Date/Place of Birth: September 3, 1982, Barrie, Ontario
Deceased: January 19, 2012, Salt Lake City, Utah U.S.
Resting: Rosa Khutor Mountain, Sochi, Russia
Residence: Youth in Hillsdale, Ontario
Delegate(s): Rory Bushfield (Husband), Jan Phelan (Mother), Gordon Burke (Father)
Highlights:
2001
♦ First place U.S. Freeskiing Open in the half-pipe against men
♦ ESPN Female Skier of the Year
...more highlights
Narrative:
Given Sarah’s outstanding accomplishments and tireless lobbying for her sport she has an extensive list of media coverage. Some of these are part of this Narrative Section. Springwater Sports Heritage encourages you to review the following and explore the magnitude of informative material on the internet. ...more narrative
Galleries:
Links:
Sarah Burke Foundation
Midland Sports Hall of Fame
Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame
Media Links:
♦ Remembering Sarah Burke - CBC News: The National, Oct 27, 2014, 6:52 min
♦ Sarah Burke Memorial Mix - January 21, 2012, two days after passing
♦ 2012 Winter X Games: Sarah Burke Feature - Athletes describe her influence, Jan 28, 2012
♦ Girl Talk...with Sarah Burke - Momentum Camps May 16, 2011
