Remembering Sarah Burke & Greg Athans
Burke, a freeskier, and Athans, a freestyle skier, were among 10 inductees considered “the best of the best in BC sport.”
“Our selection committee did an outstanding job of sifting through 115 nominations; we thank them and the members of the public who take the time to submit nominations,” said Marion Lay, Honoured Member and chair of the Selection Committee.
The 2014 induction class was announced this week in the Hall of Champions of the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Other inductees included Lars Hansen (basketball), Scott Niedermayer (hockey), and the entire 1978 Doc’s Blues Women’s Softball Team.
Born in Barrie, Ontario, Sarah Burke was a freerider and four-time Winter X-Games gold medallist in superpipe. Burke won the first-ever FIS freestyle world championship in half-pipe skiing in 2005, then successfully lobbied the International Olympic Committee to have half-pipe skiing added to the Olympic program for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Burke passed away at the age of 29 after a training accident in Utah in 2012.
Born and raised in Kelowna, BC, Greg Athans is the third member of the amazing Athans family to be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame. Athans was a pioneer in freestyle skiing, helping launch the sport into the Olympic Games beginning in 1988. He won four World Overall titles, two World Mogul titles, one World Ballet title, and more than 20 World Cup events. Athans was also a world-class water skier, placing fourth at the 1977 world championships and won the Canadian national championships 15 times. The skier passed away at the age of 51 in 2006.
The 2014 Inductees will be formally inducted to the BC Sports Hall of Fame at the 46th Annual Banquet of Champions presented by Canadian Direct Insurance at the Vancouver Convention Centre on September 25, 2014.
Photo of Sarah Burke courtesy of Roxy.
SnowOnline Editor: Lori Knowles
