From 1973 through 1989 Canadian Lynn Kanuka-Williams competed in nearly every available track distance, but it was in the middle distances that she found the most success. From 1980 through 1982 she ran for San Diego State University before returning north to represent her country on the international stage. Her first appearance came at the 1983 Summer Universiade, where she won a bronze medal in the 3,000 metres, and was followed up by a ninth-place finish in the same event at the inaugural World Championships in Athletics. She was selected to attend the 1984 Summer Olympics, where she earned a bronze medal in the 3,000 m behind Maricica Puică of Romania and Wendy Sly of Great Britain. Her next stop was the 1986 Commonwealth Games, where she won the 3,000 m and placed third in the 1,500 metres. In 1987 she was sixth and ninth in the 3,000 m at the World Indoor and World Championships respectively, and made a second Olympic appearance in 1988, where she was fifth in the 1,500 m and eighth in the 3,000 m. Her final major international tournament was the 1989 World Cross Country Championships, where she earned bronze in the 5,000 metres, after which she retired and took up coaching. Having set numerous Canadian records across several distances, she received many honors including induction into the Saskatchewan Sports (1994), Canadian Olympic (1996), British Columbia Sports (1999), and San Diego State Athletic (2005) Halls of Fame.
Personal Bests: 1500 – 4:00.27 (1985); 3000 – 8:37.30 (1988).
Canada