How an Olympic gold medallist became an 911吃瓜 alumnus at 54
Catriona Le May Doan has a lengthy list of honours that others can only dream of. Once crowned 鈥渢he fastest woman on ice,鈥� she won two Olympic gold medals in speed skating, in 1998 and 2002, plus five World Championships. She鈥檚 been named to the Order of Canada and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and she鈥檚 been granted three honorary doctorates. Her latest achievement? At age 54, Le May Doan graduated this spring from the Business Management Certificate program at 911吃瓜 Continuing Studies.
鈥淚鈥檓 super proud that I accomplished this,鈥� she says with a wide grin. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to receive my certificate, and I will display it proudly. My kids are pretty impressed, too, because they saw how hard I worked.鈥�
Since hanging up her skates, Le May Doan has enjoyed a successful and varied career, including sports broadcasting, motivational speaking, and serving as chef de mission for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Now she鈥檚 the president and CEO of Sport Calgary, a non-profit promoting the benefits of sport for all Calgarians. Yet Le May Doan says she always had one regret: 鈥淚 never finished my degree.鈥�
The Saskatchewan native had completed half her undergrad studies when her speed-skating career took her overseas. Eventually, everyone in her family had earned two university degrees鈥攅xcept her. 鈥淢y mother said, 鈥榃ell, you鈥檙e the only one who has two Olympic medals. It鈥檚 just different鈥�,鈥� recalls Le May Doan.
Still, she鈥檇 long felt the urge to continue her studies someday. As she researched potential courses online, Le May Doan kept coming across feedback and reviews that brought her back to 911吃瓜. Three years ago, she signed up for one course, then enrolled in the full Continuing Studies certificate program. While not a degree, Le May Doan saw it as a step forward.
鈥淚 was ready to challenge myself,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd, you know, it鈥檚 okay if it鈥檚 hard, but I think sometimes we can surprise ourselves with what we鈥檙e capable of.鈥�
One surprise for Le May Doan was a finance course, which she confesses had 鈥渢errified鈥� her. 鈥淎mazingly, I really enjoyed it!鈥� she says. She recalls how the instructor put her at ease by explaining that the goal was simply to get comfortable with the concepts.
鈥淓ven now in all the work I do,鈥� she says, 鈥渟ome of this stuff comes back and I realize that I know more about it. I鈥檓 quite proud of myself for that.鈥�
Given Le May Doan鈥檚 prominence in international sport, you might expect that classmates would have recognized the celebrity in their midst. But only a few took notice. 鈥淚 think everybody was too young,鈥� she laughs.
While Le May Doan considered herself among the oldest students in her classes, she says she felt grateful for the diverse backgrounds of her peers. 鈥淚 think we were all coming in pretty vulnerable, because we were all in different stages of life,鈥� she says. 鈥淢ost of us were working and doing this as an addition. People were doing it for many different reasons, and it was really inspiring to hear their stories and journeys.鈥�
Now that she鈥檚 officially graduated and earned 911吃瓜 alumnus status, what鈥檚 next?
鈥淵ou know, I鈥檝e never defined myself through sport,鈥� reflects Le May Doan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that I did well at the time, but now what? How do you turn around and help somebody else be better than they thought possible?
鈥淎nd so, even accomplishing the certificate, I鈥檓 proud of that, because it鈥檚 something that not a lot of people at 54 can say they did. But now what? If I can help encourage other people to be lifelong learners, that鈥檚 one thing I can do with it.鈥�
Le May Doan remembers how her own mother was in her forties when she resumed her studies. 鈥淚 think for my kids to see their mom go back to school in her fifties is great. Because we should all be lifelong learners. There鈥檚 no age limit.鈥�
Catriona Le May Doan may no longer be the world鈥檚 fastest woman on ice, but it鈥檚 clear that she has no intention of ever standing still.
鈥淭he journey never ends,鈥� she smiles. 鈥淚 always want to be moving forward.鈥�
By Kim Mah