Born: 1978 (Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada)
Biography:
Heather Moyse OPEI (born July 23, 1978) is a Canadian athlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist, representing Canada in international competition as a bobsledder, rugby union player, and track cyclist and competing at the Canadian intercollegiate level in rugby, soccer, and track and field.
Heather Moyse was born on July 23, 1978, in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. From an early age, Moyse displayed remarkable athletic abilities and a fierce determination to succeed. She attended Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside, where she excelled in sports such as soccer, basketball, rugby, and track and field. Her talent and dedication led her to be named the two-time Female Athlete of the Year at the school.
After high school, Moyse pursued higher education and graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in kinesiology. During her time at the university, Moyse continued to participate in various sports, including rugby, soccer, and track and field. Her exceptional athletic prowess earned her a place in the university’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Moyse’s achievements did not go unnoticed, as she received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her career. She was the recipient of the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award as P.E.I.’s outstanding athlete in both 2006 and 2010. Additionally, she was named Prince Edward Island’s Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2005, 2006, and 2010. Throughout the years, Moyse has won ten Sport P.E.I. awards, further emphasizing her remarkable contributions to sports in Canada. In 2010, Moyse and bobsled pilot Kaillie Humphries were nominated as Sportswoman of the Year by the American Women’s Sports Foundation in the Team category. Moreover, she received the prestigious 2010 University of Waterloo Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Young Alumni Award.
Heather Moyse’s success extended beyond her athletic endeavors. In 2012, Sportsnet Magazine named her one of the 30 Most Beautiful Athletes on the Planet, highlighting her not only as an outstanding athlete but also as a symbol of grace and beauty. In 2014, she was honored with the Order of Prince Edward Island, recognizing her significant contributions to her home province and the sporting community.
Moyse’s journey in bobsleigh began in the 2005-2006 season, where she teamed up with Helen Upperton. In their rookie season, the duo won the Canadian Championships and earned four medals on the World Cup circuit, including a gold medal in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Moyse also broke push start records on five international tracks, showcasing her exceptional strength and speed.
At the 2006 Winter Olympics, Moyse and Upperton narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing in fourth place in the two-man bobsleigh event, missing bronze by a mere five one-hundredths of a second. Despite the disappointment, they set the push start record for the Olympic track with a blazing 5.16-second start time in their first heat.
Moyse took a short break from bobsleigh to focus on her educational commitments but returned to the World Cup circuit in the 2007-2008 season. This time, she served as one of the two brakemen for Canada 1 pilot, Helen Upperton. The duo achieved impressive results, earning a silver medal, a bronze medal, and two fifth-place finishes.
In the 2008 World Championships held in Altenberg, Germany, Moyse teamed up with Canada 3 pilot Lisa Szabon and finished in 11th place, demonstrating her versatility and adaptability as an athlete.
However, Moyse faced a significant setback when she suffered a serious shoulder injury while playing rugby for Canada. Despite the challenges, she persevered and made a triumphant comeback during the 2008-2009 World Cup season. In her only race with Canada 1 pilot Upperton, Moyse and Upperton secured a gold medal in Igls, Austria, reaffirming Moyse’s resilience and determination.
Throughout her career, Heather Moyse proved to be a remarkable athlete with an unwavering dedication to excellence. Her achievements in bobsleigh, rugby, and track cycling have left an indelible mark on Canadian sports history. Moyse’s remarkable journey and her ability to excel across multiple sports have made her an influential figure in women’s sports. Her impact extends beyond her athletic success, as she continues to inspire athletes around the world with her dedication, resilience, and unwavering spirit.
Awards:
– Two-time Female Athlete of the Year at Three Oaks Senior High School
– Inducted into the University of Waterloo Sports Hall of Fame in 2002
– Recipient of the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award as P.E.I.’s outstanding athlete in 2006 and 2010
– Named Prince Edward Island’s Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2005, 2006, and 2010
– Ten-time Sport P.E.I. award winner since 1998
– Nominee for the American Women’s Sports Foundation’s Sportswoman of the Year in the Team category in 2010
– Received the 2010 University of Waterloo Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Young Alumni Award
– Named one of the 30 Most Beautiful Athletes on the Planet by Sportsnet Magazine in 2012
– Recipient of the Order of Prince Edward Island in 2014