Beckie Scott

Event: cross-country skiing
Date of Birth: August 1, 1974
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 140 lbs
Hometown: Vegreville, A.B.
Residence: Bend, Oregon

Athletic Highlights:

• Olympic Gold Medallist: Salt Lake City 2002 – Pursuit
• Two-time Olympian: Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002
• Placed in the top-10 in each of her other three Olympic events at Salt Lake Games
• Won seven World Cup medals in sprint, individual and relay events and has been consistently in the top-10 throughout the last five ski seasons

Background:

Beckie Scott grew up in Vermilion, Alberta and began cross-country skiing at the age of five, with the encouragement of her parents Walter and Jan. Soon afterward, her mother helped to organize the local chapter of the Jackrabbit Ski League, which provided Beckie the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of skiing while having fun with her friends.

Beckie was the typical active child, participating in a wide range of activities (ballet, jazz, piano) and sports (gymnastics and swimming), but eventually gravitated to cross-country skiing as her primary interest. She entered her first competition at age seven, but her racing career began in earnest at age 13 when a new coach, Len Parsons, moved to Vermilion. Under Parson’s tutelage, Beckie learned to think big and to believe in herself. The success she achieved on her first trip to the Junior National Championships – in 100 Mile House in 1988 – gave her a sense of her potential, and a taste for high level competition. The dream was born – and it was an Olympic dream.

Beyond her athletic prowess, Beckie also brings strong values and an active social conscience to her life. An ardent advocate of drug-free sport, in 2001 alongside her teammates, she helped to circulate an athletes’ petition requesting the establishment of an independent drug-testing body for all World Cup and Olympic competitions.

“I think the message that Sport For Life brings to children is extremely important, and I am excited to use my social experiences to reach out to Alberta’s youth. I feel it is important, as an athlete, to speak about my personal journey and emphasize the positive influence that sport can have on encouraging healthy lifestyles.”