An Ottawa figure skater who inspired generations of young athletes has passed away.

Olympic champion Barbara Anne Scott died at her home in Florida over the weekend. She was 84.

“Her husband Tommy called me last night at around 10 o'clock and said I was the first person he called and Barbara had died,” said Pat MacAdam, Scott’s friend.

Scott had undergone surgery last March. Friends say she never fully recovered.

“She was in obvious pain. She was slow getting around but she never complained,” said MacAdam.

Scott was born into a military family and raised in Sandy Hill near downtown Ottawa.

She first stepped onto the ice at the Minto Skating Club in the east end of Ottawa at age seven.

Skaters and fans alike remembered the woman Prime Minister McKenzie King said gave Canadians the "courage to get through the post-war gloom."

In 1948, she won both the world champions and the Olympic gold at St. Moritz.

She was the first woman in the world to land double lutz.

She was the only person to hold the European, North American, Canadian, World Championships and Olympic gold at once.

“The only thing she didn't do in her life is win an Oscar. But she's done everything else someone could possibly wish to do.” said Emery Leger, a Skate Canada Archivist.

Her charity work over the years was legendary and she continued to be a prominent member of the skating world as a judge.  

She was one of the flag bearers during the 2010 Winter games in Vancouver.

In August, she was in Ottawa and donated all of her medal as she opened the "Barbara Ann Scott Room" at Ottawa City Hall.

Outside the gallery  features a book of condolences.

“She was a wonderful person always giving back. Her charitable work was really quite remarkable didn't get a lot of publicity for it and she didn't want publicity,” said Jim Watson, Ottawa Mayor.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's John Hua.