Emily Stowe, First Female Doctor in Canada

Emily Howard Jennings Stowe (May 1, 1831-April 30, 1903), a path-breaking Canadian woman physician and suffragist, led campaigns to provide women access to medical schools and other professional education. Her efforts led to the organization of the woman's movement in Canada and to the foundation of a medical college for women.

Kathrine Switzer, First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon

Kathrine Switzer will always be best known as the woman who challenged the all-male tradition of the Boston Marathon and became the first woman to officially enter and run the event. Her entry created an uproar and worldwide notoriety when a race official tried to forcibly remove her from the competition. Her fellow runners, seeing a comrade and not 'just a woman' helped her continue the race.

Lynn Jennings, Runner

Records Held
World Record (indoor): 5,000 m - 15:22.64 (January 7, 1990 - )
American Record: 10,000 m - 31:19.89 (August 7, 1992 - )
The freedom of Cross Country is so primitive. It's woman vs. nature. Lynn.

Paula Radcliffe, Runner

Radcliffe is the current world record holder for the women's marathon, which she set during the 2003 London Marathon in April, with a time of 2:15:25. This mark is currently one of the highest scoring performances ever. Go Paula go!!

Dara Torres, Olympic Swimmer

Winning twelve Olympic gold medals for swimming in her career is pretty impressive, but what’s more impressive is that Dara Torres won three of those silver medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she was 41-YEARS-OLD and the mother of a 2-year-old. Dara proves that moms won't quit and can still achieve all of their goals!

Bethany Hamilton, Pro Surfer

Hamilton has defied all odds after losing one of her arms in a shark attack in 2003. Now one of the top 10 female professional surfers worldwide, Hamilton is making it both as an athlete and an entrepreneur.

Maelle Ricker - Snowboard Cross, Olympics

Just shy of a medal at both of her previous Olympic Games and after suffering frustrating crashes, Maëlle Ricker thrilled Canadians as she reached the Gold Medal podium at Vancouver 2010 in front of a home crowd in British Columbia. With that win, Ricker became the first Canadian woman to earn an Olympic gold medal on home soil.

Jacqueline Cochran, Aviation

During her aviation career, from the 1930s through the 1960s, Jacqueline Cochran (d. 1980) set more speed and altitude records than any contemporary pilot, male or female, and was the first woman to break the sound barrier. During World War II, she was instrumental in formation of the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs). This photograph was taken ca. 1962 when she received the Harmon Trophy for establishing eight World Class records in jet planes.