Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: Michelle Cameron Coulter

2015 marks the Year of Sport and the 60th anniversary of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. In recognition of these important milestones, OLM will be featuring Honoured Members of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in a weekly Profile piece.

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame aims to share the stories and achievements of its Honoured Members to inspire Canadians in all aspects of life.

Michelle Cameron Coulter, Athlete, Synchronized Swimming

As an Olympic Gold Medalist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, wife and mother, synchronized swimmer Michelle Cameron Coulter inspires Canadians to reach their full potential.

Cameron Coulter grew up in Calgary with nine siblings. She had an extreme fear of water as a child, but eventually overcame her anxieties and quickly mastered the skill and art of synchronized swimming.  

In 1976, Cameron Coulter joined the Calgary Aquabelles Synchronized Swimming Club, marking the beginning of her competitive athletic career. While Cameron Coulter was part of the team, they went on to win six of eight national championships between 1981 and 1988.

It was the Aquabelles coach who paired Cameron Coulter with teammate Carolyn Waldo in 1985 for the duet event. A perfect match, the women won almost every major duet competition they entered, including the 1985 Rome and Spanish Opens, 1986 Commonwealth Games, 1986 World Championships and the 1987 Pan Pacific Championships. At the height of their athletic career, they won Gold  at the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988. Cameron Coulter’s win marked the first time an Albertan ever won a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games.

Not only is Cameron Coulter a leader in the pool, but also in the community. She has dedicated her time to numerous non-profit and charitable organizations in addition to forming two of her own. Her company, Gold Medal Inspirations, encourages others to find opportunities in their everyday life and seize them without hesitation. She is also the co-founder and principal of GEMS, which has a mission to create a bigger definition of success for women in business. As well, the retired athlete has been on the board of directors for many companies and organizations like the Canadian Coaching Association, Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and the Special Olympics. Most recently, she was asked to be a Founding Council Member of the WSA, a global association of women speakers.

Cameron Coulter has been inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s  Sports Hall of Fame along with the International Aquatic Hall of Fame. In 1988, she was also made a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the country.

To learn more about Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, visit sportshall.ca.