Sylvie Fortier

Sylvie Fortier (born July 31, 1958) is a Canadian former synchronized swimmer. She won medals in Canadian provincial and national competitions, at the World Aquatics Championships, the Pan American Games and the Pan Pacific Games. Fortier was named the 1976 world champion in synchronized swimming for her achievements that year and was a torch bearer for the opening ceremony of the Montreal Summer Olympics. She retired in 1977 aged just 18. Fortier is an inductee of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Aquatics Hall of Fame.

Personal background and early career On July 31, 1958, Fortier was born in Quebec City, Quebec. She took up swimming with the successful Synchro Élite du Québec club in 1968, Her team claimed the gold medal in provincial competition, and won two gold medals in the figures and solo disciplines at the national championships in 1973. She traveled to Ottawa to compete in the 1974 World Invitational Solo Synchronized Swimming Championships as part of the Pan Pacific Games held at the Nepean Sportsplex that September. Fortier took the silver medal in both the figure and team events.

She continued to attain success in 1975. Fortier won gold medals in each of her events. At the 1975 World Aquatics Championships in Cali, Fortier finished second for the solo event silver medal in the synchronized swimming discipline. She also took the silver medal in the team event at the same competition.

In 1976, she would continue her run of achievements. She also added victories in the provincial events. Fortier served as a torch bearer for the 1976 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Montreal. Fortier traveled to Japan the following month and won the solo discipline against American outdoor champion Robin Curren at the Pan Pacific Games. She was named synchronized swimming's world champion following her achievements in 1976. She said in an interview that she was happy with what she had achieved throughout her career and wanted to pursue other activities.

Accolades At the Sports Federations of Canada awards banquet in January 1976, Fortier was named the top junior athlete "for her prowess in synchronized swimming." She was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in the athletes category in 1977. The following year, she was inducted into the Aquatics Hall of Fame. The Sylvie Fortier Award was named after the synchronized swimmer and was first presented in 1984. The accolade is presented by Canada Artistic Swimming to the province "for the best membership growth percentage in the sport of Artistic Swimming."