With much attention focused on London, Ottawa took some time Thursday to reflect on a local gold medal win 64 years ago.
Barbara Ann Scott’s 1948 figure skating gold medal and other memorabilia are now on display at Ottawa City Hall.
“(The medal) belongs to Ottawa,” Scott said. “This is where it should be and hopefully it will make some more athletes work hard and want to compete and win for Canada."
“We’re very blessed to have all this in one location,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson during the unveiling.
Scott is still the only person to ever hold the European, North American, Canadian, World and Olympic figure skating titles at the same time.
She said figure skating has changed a lot since her day, when she earned the nickname “Canada’s Sweetheart.”
“The poor kids are like gymnasts,” she said. “I mean, they're flying through the air, which is exciting, but it's not figure skating."
She said she still has fierce pride for Canada, just like athletes competing in these Olympics and the next Winter Games in 2014.
"Youngsters don't like old ladies telling them what to do, I just wish them good luck and to work hard," she said.
"They've been trying hard to do a good job for Canada. I hope it's for Canada before themselves."
The Barbara Ann Scott Gallery is near the Lisgar Street entrance to city hall, and admission is free.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Norman Fetterley
