Swimming record-breaker inducted into CW Hall of Fame

CALGARY - The newest member of the Canada West Hall of Fame is Keltie Duggan, the conference announced Thursday. The University of Alberta swimmer was the best her craft had seen when she came onto the collegiate scene in 1989. And she proved it. In her time with the Pandas, she smashed the CIAU records in the 100-metre and 50-metre breaststroke.

Duggan was also a member of the 4 by 100-metre medley relay team that set a collegiate record. Her post-secondary career was filled with honours, including the CIAU Swimmer of the Meet, the University of Alberta outstanding female athlete, and spots on the CW and CIAU all-star teams.

“Keltie is one of the most prolific athletes the University of Alberta has ever produced, and led the Pandas Swimming team during arguably their most successful era in program history. Along with her athletic achievements as a Panda, which included four Canada West team Championships and 11 individual CIAU Medals, Keltie was also an accomplished swimmer with the Canadian National team from 1987 to 1993, and an Olympic medalist. Keltie represents everything that is great about Canadian University Sport. An accomplished athlete, tremendous student, volunteer, coach, and now a practicing doctor. Being inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame is a great honor for Keltie, as she is very deserving of her place among the best in conference history,” said University of Alberta Athletic Director, Ian Reade.

Duggan also made a splash on the international swimming scene, bringing home medals from the Olympics (bronze in the 4x100-metre relay race), Pan American Games (gold in the 100m breaststroke), Pan Pacific Championships (gold in the 100m breaststroke), Commonwealth Games (gold in 100m breaststroke; bronze in 4x100-metre medley relay), and World Championships (silver in 50m breaststroke).

Duggan was named the Swimming Canada Athlete of the Year in 1989-1990. It was that same year she broke the Canadian record in the 50-metre breaststroke—a mark that stood for 18 years.

Duggan also achieved greatness in the classroom as a five-time Academic All-Canadian. She went on to become a doctor, completing her residency in family medicine before practising in acute care, neuro-rehabilitation and palliative hospice care.

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. This year's induction class will be unveiled throughout the summer of 2022.

VISIT: CanadaWestHallofFame.org