Olympic Figure Skater and World Silver Medalist
Boasting more than 30 years in both amateur and professional figure skating, Elizabeth Manley was the first Canadian female to successfully land a triple-double combination jump in competition.
She has participated in two Olympic Games (where she won the 1988 silver medal and became the Olympic freestyle champion), six World Championships, and has won three National Titles. Reliving her incredible journey for audiences, Manley gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it takes to make it to the top and speaks with honesty about the importance of mental health and surviving the loss of her parents.
Since her retirement from amateur competition, Manley was awarded The Royal Order of Canada. She is the author of two autobiographies, Thumbs Up: The Elizabeth Manley Story and Elizabeth Manley: As I Am, My Life after the Olympics. She has also starred in three television specials, Trial of Red Riding Hood, Back to the Beanstalk, and Dear Elizabeth, which won a Gemini Award. She was also a sports commentator for NBC for the Salt Lake City and Torino Olympic Games, and was a part of the CTV broadcast team for the Vancouver Olympic Games.
Manley is the former national spokesperson for Herbal Magic, and a current spokesperson for The Alzheimer’s Society of Ottawa, and former spokesperson for Winners Walk of Hope for Ovarian Cancer Canada .She is also an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association of Canada, an ambassador for the Health Council of Canada.
Elizabeth has become a Producer of the charity event Elizabeth Manley and Friends for Mental Health (and regularly works with the Canadian Mental Health Association), and is a member of the Cancer Foundation Courage Campaign Presidents’ Advisory Circle in Ottawa. Elizabeth has spoken to more then 75 schools on the importance of Mental Health , Bullying , and Teen Suicide.
In 1988, Manley was made a Member of the Order of Canada. She is also a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, and the Skate Canada Hall of Fame. In 2014, she was also inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2015 Elizabeth received one of the highest honours in Ottawa ” The Builders Award ” from United Way which recognized her continuous contributions and work in the community for charitable work.