Shirley Firth

Shirley Firth (31 December 1953 in Aklavik, Northwest Territories – 30 April 2013) was a Canadian cross-country skier who competed in four consecutive Winter Olympics in 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1984.

Career Of Metis descent and a member of the Gwich'in First Nation, Firth was one of the first indigenous North Americans to represent Canada in the Olympic Games. Together, the siblings accumulated 79 medals at the national championships, including 48 national titles, figures that no other athlete has come close to reaching. They became the first indigenous women to receive the Order of Sport, marking their induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. Firth had previously received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the sports category in 2006. In 2008, Firth was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Banff Sports.

Shirley Firth-Larsson was inducted into the NWT Sport Hall of Fame in 2012.

Olympic Games Year Age 5 km 10 km 20 km 3/4 × 5 km relay 1972 18 35 — 10 1976 22 27 29 7 1980 26 28 24 8 1984 30 28 22 25 —

World Championships Year Age 5 km 10 km 20 km 4 × 5 km relay 1978 24 36 30 34 9 1980 26 9 1982 28 — — 12 —

World Cup Season standings Season Age Overall 1982 28 11 1983 29 25 1984 30 25

Personal life Shirley Firth Larsson was the daughter of Stephen Firth (Métis) born November 20, 1922, at the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Fanny Rose Greenland (Métis) born January 21, 1922, also in NWT. Following her athletic career, Firth went on to live in France where she raised a family and lectured on the Dene and Inuit cultures. Firth was honoured at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary's Olympic Park, by her spouse and daughters.