Kathy Kreiner’s dream in life was, to her, simple: mimic Nancy Greene’s accomplishment at the 1968 Winter Olympics and take home the gold in the Giant Slalom. Her father, the Canadian ski team doctor at those Olympics, had vividly recalled Greene’s achievement and inspired his daughter to become a champion skier. Skiing since the age of three, her drive was strong and, at the age of 14, she competed for Canada at the 1972 Winter Olympics, although her chance at victory would have to wait until the 1976 Games. As a prelude to those Olympics, she won the gold at the 1974 World Cup in that event. In less than eight years, she had realized her dream at a mere 18 years of age, the youngest skier in Olympic history at that time to have won a gold medal. Her victory was the only gold medal for Canada at those Games and earned her the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award, annually given to the top Canadian female athlete. She continued skiing professionally for another five years, never again winning the event, neither at World Cups nor World Championships nor the 1980 Winter Olympics, and she retired in 1981. She was made a member of the Canadian Skiing Hall of Fame in 1984.
Kreiner holds a B.Sc in Physical Education from the University of Utah and an M.Sc. in Sport Psychology from the University of Ottawa and now works as a mental trainer for young athletes. She co-authored “Winning After Winning, The Psychology of Ongoing Excellence” with sports psychologist Terry Orlick.
Canada