Achievements of Asian Canadians in Sports

Canada has always had a long history of sports, from the first Indigenous games, like rugby and canoeing, to today’s sports, such as hockey and snowboarding. There’s been plenty of racial and ethnic diversity in the sports industry, especially with Asian Canadians, who have broken countless records and won numerous titles and championships, becoming integral representatives for Team Canada. Here are several exceptional Asian Canadian athletes who have paved the way for the future of sports in Canada.

MAGGIE MAC NEIL

Hannah Margaret McNair MacNeil, better known as Maggie, is the 21-year old Chinese-Canadian who won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for the women’s 100m butterfly. Remarkably, she set an Americas and career-best record of 55.9 seconds and beat China’s beloved Zhang Yufei by 0.05 of a second as well, taking the world by surprise. She began swimming at the young age of two and entered her first competition at eight. Soon, she joined the swimming clubs for Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School, the London Aquatic Club, and the University of Michigan, upon her acceptance; where she intends to major in either medicine or law. With MacNeil training diligently and her popularity continuing to skyrocket, experts and supporters cannot wait to see what other talents and records she brings to this popular sport!

ROBIN BAWA

At the age of 23, Robin Bawa, a former hockey player from British Columbia, became the first South Asian athlete to play for the NHL upon his debut with the Washington Capitals in 1989. Some even look at him as the first South Asian athlete to play for one of North America’s top four major professional sports leagues; the MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA.

Bawa was first introduced to hockey through his friends, but unfortunately, they prevented him from playing due to his background, stating that “your kind doesn’t play hockey”. However, this was ignored by his father, who bought him his first skates to practice on a frozen pond, where Bawa began to explore the sport.

At the beginning of his hockey journey as a youth, he proceeded from the local Fuller Laker Flyers to Ken Hitchcock’s Kamloops Blazers, assisting them in winning two WHL (Western Hockey League) titles and two Memorial Cup third place finishes. He then moved to Fort Wayne and Baltimore in Washington’s farm system (a Major League franchise’s system of related Minor League teams where a player can develop their talents), before having his chance at the NHL with the Washington Capitals and eventually, the Vancouver Canucks. At last, he continued playing for numerous teams in the International Hockey League until his retirement, caused by a wave of concussions in 1999.

His way of playing was smart, heavy, and tough, in a manner that was ahead of his time, made for the present-day NHL which accents skill and speed, but also focuses on toughness and resolve. Robin Bawa’s legacy in hockey serves as an inspiration to other South Asian Canadians and as motivation to be determined and courageous; to follow their dreams, no matter how big or small.

ALEXA LOO

Alexa Loo, a Chinese-Canadian, North American, Slalom Winner, and the first Canadian woman to participate in the parallel giant Slalom at the Olympics, has always been an important athlete in advocating for snowboarding.

Loo, born in Vancouver, BC, had her first introduction to sports through skiing at two years old at a cabin in Mt. Baker, Washington. Throughout her childhood, she engaged in numerous activities, ranging from skating and ballet to swimming and track and field. She did not participate in snowboarding until she was fifteen years old and did not participate competitively until the age of 25, after she graduated from the University of British Columbia.

With a strong desire to play in the Olympics, Loo quit her job as an accountant and began training for the Olympic team, doing anything that would increase her playing ability. However, she wasn’t certified for the 1998 Olympics, partly due to her inexperience, and the 2002 Olympics, where she was unable to join due to losing at a World Cup by one-tenth of a second. Yet, through determination, skill, and her passion for snowboarding, she got to two Olympic games, five World Championships, and eleven national titles.

Furthermore, this sport also introduced her to politics, where she began as a Canadian snowboarding Athlete Representative and proceeded to campaign for the Minister of Sport for the Federal Government at the time, enabling athletes to secure their voices and votes at tables, impacting their sports and acquiring an annual growth of $7M in sports funding. Persisting in sports politics, Loo was a key player in forming national and international policies with the Canadian Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Hence, her work in snowboarding and sports in general, in terms of playing and politics, has ensured opportunities for athletes to work and thrive in an inclusive and safe environment. To which they can pursue their passions and be successful with their talents, all while having a say and active role in topics concerning their respective sport.

From breaking Olympic swimming records, increasing the diversity within hockey, and facilitating for athletes’ inputs to be heard in sports politics, the highlights of these three Asian Canadians only show a glimpse of the diverse Asian achievements in improving the careers and opportunities found in Canadian sports.

SOURCES

“Alexa Loo.” AthletesCAN, https://athletescan.com/en/alexa-loo.

“Biography.” Alexa Loo Campaign, https://alexaloo.com/biography.html.

“Robin Bawa.” BC Sports Hall of Fame, https://bcsportshall.com/honoured_member/robin-bawa/.

“Who Is Chinese-Canadian Swimmer Maggie MacNeil?” South China Morning Post, 28 July 2021, https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3142570/maggie-macneil-biography-tokyo-olympic-gold-chinese-heritage-and.

By Fahima K.