Shirley Firth Larsson:
Humble Olympian prefers the quiet life
Article by Jenn Kelland
She's
been home in the Northwest Territories now for about five months,
but has been skiing only a handful of times. Shirley Firth Larsson,
former Olympian and this year's National Aboriginal Achievement
Award winner for sport, said family comes first now. She admitted,
however, the few times she's been on the trails, it's been heaven.
"It's so beautiful, like a dream to see all the trees with
white crystals" Simple, poetic descriptions and quiet memories
are what Firth Larsson still carries with her after an unprecedented
17 years on the World Cup circuit, a career that took her to
four Olympics, not to mention competitions all over the world,
and won her and her twin sister, Sharon, 79 medals between them.
"I don't' talk about skiing whatsoever," Firth Larsson
said. "I want to live a humble life. I don't want anyone
to know me... That's how I want my children to be. Society puts
so much pressure on people who are known."
The desire for anonymity could come from Firth Larsson's quiet
beginnings at her first home in Aklavik. Born in 1953 and 10
minutes ahead of her sister, Firth Larsson said she had a happy
childhood as part of a big family.
"What I always remember is when my parents were on the trapline,"
she recalled. "The things that come into my mind is when
I would lie on the banks and listen to ice crystals, like chimes
or bells in my mind."
Firth Larsson said she learned the ways of the land before she
even went to school. She remembers her mother being a big influence
on her ...
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