Athlete: Speed Skating
Year to be Inducted: 2026
Year of Birth: 1911
Born in: Ottawa, Ontario

Before Barbara Ann Scott captured Canada’s hearts with her 1948 Olympic figure skating title, there was another lesser-known Ottawa woman on blades who excelled on ice.

Born in 1911, Françoise Desbiens (Mougeot) was a speed skating marvel. She started as a “playground skater” but developed into one of Canada’s best while training and competing at the Plouffe Park outdoor speed skating oval.

She swiftly won her first title at the Ottawa Speed Skating Championships in 1925 and repeated as female under-18 champion in the 220-yard race over the next four years.

After she won the 1927 Dominion U16 girls’ 220-yard and 440-yard titles in Toronto, City of Ottawa Council hosted a reception for Desbiens to celebrate her achievements.

She snagged two more national gold medals (440, 880) the following year at the same site, completing the 440-yard event in 46 seconds. And in 1929, Desbiens was once again a Canadian champion in both the 220- and 440-yard events in Montreal.

The opportunity to strive for greater global recognition wasn’t available to Desbiens at the time, with women’s speed skating events only added to the Winter Olympic Games in 1960.

Desbiens retired from competitive speed skating following her standout junior career, but she continued to participate and excel in other sports. She was a strong hitter at the plate in softball, a renowned sprinter in the 50- and 100-yard track and field events, and she thrived on the tennis courts too.