15 Olympians make list of 2014 Most Influential Women in Sport

A notable Canadian group for women in sport has announced its list of Most Influential Women in Sport for 2014.

With last year containing a Winter Olympics, the list is brimming with Sochi Olympians but also includes summer athletes, Canadian and international leaders, plus sport executives.

Created by The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), the list is the culmination of a ‘selection panel, from both public nominations and contributions from knowledgeable sport and physical activity leaders’ according to a release from the organization.

The CAAWS Most Influential Women list for 2014 is:

Brenda Andress, Commissioner, Canadian Women’s Hockey League
Caroline Assalian, Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
Eugenie Bouchard, WTA’s 2014 Most Improved Player; Wimbledon Finalist         
Justine, Chloé and Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, Sochi Olympians  
Maureen Hagan, VP of Operations and Head of Fitness Training, Goodlife Fitness Clubs Inc.
Waneek Horn-Miller, Olympian, IndigenACTION Ambassador; Pan Am Games Asst. Chef de Mission
Clara Hughes, Olympian, Mental health advocate; Bell Let’s Talk Campaign
Kaillie Humphries, Olympian, 2014 Lou Marsh Award Winner
Jennifer Jones Rink and coach Janet Arnott, Olympians and their coach
Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO, Coaching Association of Canada
Rachel Lewis, COO, Vancouver Whitecaps
Debbie Low, President & CEO, Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
Anne Merklinger, CEO, Own the Podium
Karen O’Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee; Board Member, TrueSport Foundation                                                                             
Chantal Petitclerc, Paralympian, Chef de Mission, 2014 Commonwealth Games
Beckie Scott, Olympian, Member, WADA Executive Committee; Chair, WADA Athlete Committee
Christine Sinclair, Olympian, Captain, Canada’s Women’s National Soccer Team
France St-Louis, Olympian, Coach; Assistant Chef de Mission, Sochi Olympic Games
Sarah Storey, President Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton; Director of Legal Affairs, SportAccord
Hayley Wickenheiser, Olympian, Member, IOC Athletes’ Commission; Olympian

CAAWS is a not-for-profit with the goal to encourage girls and women to participate in sport, as well as working to create a sport system that supports this (which is a complex undertaking).

It’s no surprise these women’s overall contributions to sport are highlighted, and in the case of the athletes, what they’ve done off the field of play.

On the Olympic or Paralympic-sport side, three of the major organizations, (COC, CPC, Own the Podium) have women either leading or in executive roles. The sole entry from professional sport is Rachel Lewis, COO for the Vancouver Whitecaps. The list also contains women making an impact beyond Canadian borders. Beckie Scott continues her work with the World Anti-Doping Agency and hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser was elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2014.