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Nancy Greene, alpine skier (born on May 11, 1943, at Ottawa, Ont.). Raised in Rossland, B.C., Nancy Greene began skiing almost as soon as she could walk, and she was only 16 when she represented Canada at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games. Over the next few years, she proved herself fast and daring. But in her headlong attempt to beat world champions, she suffered some bad falls and numerous injuries - torn ligaments, a dislocated shoulder, a broken leg. Greene realized that she would never win the top championships unless she could learn to ski with more control. So she concentrated on this aspect of the sport, while still keeping her speed as fast as possible. The results were spectacular. She won the World Cup two years running, in 1967 and 1968. In 1968 she was also victorious at the Winter Olympics, gaining the gold medal in the giant slalom and a silver medal in the slalom. Greene was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1967 and was Canada's Athlete of the Year in 1968. She retired from competitive skiing at her peak, and she now operates a ski resort in Sun Peaks, BC. Related Articles: OLYMPICS; SKIING.
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