Record-breaker Rai enters Hall of Fame

Victoria Vikes and Canadian Olympic team swimmer inducted

EDMONTON – Pamela Rai made history many times over during her two seasons with the Victoria Vikes swimming team between 1984 and '86.

The record-breaking swimmer was inducted Thursday in the Canada West Hall of Fame, becoming the second swimming inductee after fellow Olympian Erica Morningstar was honoured earlier this week.

After winning gold in both the 400-metre freestyle and 100 metre butterfly at the 1985 national championships, the native of New Westminster, B.C., shattered Canada West and CIAU records in 1986.

At the 1986 national championships she won the 100-metre freestyle and 400 metre freestyle events in record times, and also claimed gold in the 100 metre butterfly.

Competing internationally as a member of Canada’s 4x100 relay team, Rai earned bronze at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, before adding gold at the 1986 Commonwealth Games with a Canadian and Commonwealth Games record time.

To read Rai's complete bio, click here.

ABOUT THE CANADA WEST HALL OF FAME

For the last century, organized university sport has been a central part of the student experience at institutions across Western Canada. Beginning with the University of Manitoba capturing the first Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) men's hockey banner in 1919-20, student-athletes have been competing to reach their full potential in sport and the classroom, while enriching campus life. 

To commemorate 100 years of university sport across Western Canada, the Canada West Hall of Fame was created in the spring of 2019, with the first induction class set to be unveiled throughout the 2019-20 season. 

VISIT: CanadaWestHallofFame.org

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About Canada West

Since 1972, Canada West (CW) has been a leader in Canadian university sport, working to provide our student-athletes the opportunities to excel in sport, the classroom, and their communities. CW and our 17 members from across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba collectively carry on a legacy of competitive excellence, as our champions proudly go on to represent the conference at U SPORTS national championships.

Canada West – training leaders, building champions.