Helen Vanderburg

Helen Vanderburg, synchronized swimmer (b at Calgary 12 Jan 1959). Vanderburg was the first Canadian to dominate international synchronized swimming. A member of the national team from 1971 to 1979, she won 11 Canadian solo, duet and figure titles. Until 1978, Canadian entries in international competition had consistently come in second, behind the US, although Vanderburg and Michele Calkins won the duet in the 1977 Pan-Pacific Games. But in 1978, Vanderburg achieved a remarkable breakthrough, winning Canada's first world championship gold medals, in solo and duet. In 1979, Vanderburg demonstrated that she was the best synchronized swimmer in the world, completing an unprecedented sweep of all major championships: solo and duet in the Pan-American Games, solo in the Pan-Pacific Games, and solo and duet in the FINA Cup (in 1979, her duet partner was Kelly Kryczka). Vanderburg has received many honours: the Elaine Tanner Trophy (twice), 1979 Canadian woman athlete of the year, and induction into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame. Vanderburg retired from competition in 1979.