Canadians adore sports and they adore online sports betting at TonyBet! Do you want to commemorate your beloved sportspeople, their incredibly gifted athletes, and, of course, their numerous inspirational triumphs and accolades?
We’ve compiled a list of some of Canada’s most influential sportspeople of all time, ranging from baseball to alpine skiing and (nearly) everything in between. Let’s get started.
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky, nicknamed “The Great One,” is unquestionably one of the most revered Canadian athletes in history, having played for four different clubs in the National Hockey League between 1979 and 1999.
Gretzky, who was born and raised in Brantford, turned pro at the age of 17 and rapidly earned a name for himself in the sporting world. In fact, he still maintains the NHL record for the most career points scored, with a total of 2,857.
Ferguson Jenkins
‘Fergie’ Ferguson Jenkins was born in Chatham-Kent and went on to become one of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) most prominent players. Jenkins spent the majority of his baseball career as a pitcher with the Chicago Cubs, although he also played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox. He had 284 victories in his career and was the first Canadian to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
Christine Sinclair
Christine Sinclair is a legendary Canadian soccer player who presently captains both Portland Thorns FC (NWSL) and the Canadian national team. Sinclair was born in Burnaby and is a CONCACAF and Olympic gold medallist.
She has also won the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award 14 times since turning professional in 2000.
Steve Nash
Steve Nash, now a famous basketball coach for the prestigious Brooklyn Nets, initially played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He was an All-Star eight times and twice earned the NBA MVP award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2006, citing both his athletic abilities and his charity efforts.
Sidney Crosby
Sometimes known as ‘Sid the Kid,’ is a Canadian ice hockey star who is presently the centre and captain of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. He was born in Nova Scotia and began skating at the age of three with the assistance of his father.
Crosby, who continues to play professionally, is already widely recognised as one of the best ice hockey players of all time.
Nancy Greene Raine
Incredible talent from Ontario, and mother to a now-retired alpinist (it runs in the family!) Nancy Greene Raine, Willy Raine’s sister, was named Canada’s Female Athlete of the 20th Century. She was an Olympic alpinist who won the giant slalom at the 1968 Winter Olympics.
Lewis, Lennox
You can’t discuss boxing without mentioning Lennox ‘The Lion’ Lewis. He competed for Canada in the Olympics in 1984 and 1988, winning the super-heavyweight gold medal in 1988.