Silken Laumann Olympian, Inspirational Speaker and Author
Silken laumann is a champion Canadian rower. Laumann was born in Mississauga, Ontario in 1965. Starting in 1976, Laumann won a number of awards, including a gold medal in quadruple sculls at the U.S. Championships, two gold medals in single sculls at the Pan American Games, a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics in the double sculls with her sister Daniele. Laumann rapidly emerged as the leader of a new and much improved Canadian women's rowing team. After a disappointing 7th place finish in the doubles event at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, she moved to the singles sculls and began training with the men's team. By 1991 she had become the premier women's rower in the world, winning the World Cup
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Reigning world champion in Single Sculls rowing, Silken was told by doctors she might never row again. Twenty-seven days, five operations, and countless hours of grueling rehabilitation later, Silken recovery set her ready to pursue her Olympic dream. When the starter's pistol rang out on August 2, 1992, Silken made the greatest comeback in Canadian sports history, winning the bronze medal for Canada, and capturing the hearts of a nation. Silken Laumann was named Canada's female athlete of the year in 1991 and 1992, and won the Lou Marsh award in 1991 as Canada's outstanding athlete.“From broken bones and shredded muscle to Olympic glory” (Montreal gazette). Silken's story is one of courage, perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit. Silken retired from rowing in 1999 with three Olympic medals, and since then has continued to inspire, encouraging people to dream, live in the moment and embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. In her book “Unsinkable”, laumann reveals not only new insights into her athletic success and triumph over physical adversity, but also the intense personal challenges of her past and the fierce determination