Pamela Rai
Encyclopedia
Pamela Leila Rai is a former freestyle, butterfly
swimmer from Canada
, who competed for her native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, California
. There the resident of Delta, British Columbia
won a bronze medal in the 4x100m Medley Relay, alongside Anne Ottenbrite
, Reema Abdo
, and Michelle MacPherson
. Rai represented Canada as a youth from 1976-1979 and was a member of Canada's National Swim Team from 1980-1987. Rai competed in many international events over the span of her career. Other notable awards include University of Victoria Athlete of the Year, City of Victoria Athlete of the Year, Hapoel Games silver, Pan American Games silver, Commonwealth Games gold medals. Rai swam for the University of Victoria
in British Columbia, Canada. She graduated with a degree in Sociology and went on to attain an Education degree from the University of British Columbia. Rai is high school special education teacher and a certified yoga instructor trained in Netala, India in the Sivananda Yoga
lineage. Rai owns and operates Silent Motion Yoga Vedanta Centre on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo, British Columbia. Rai is a member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame
, the Swim BC Hall of Fame and the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. Rai is the first woman of Indian ancestry to win an Olympic medal.
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
swimmer from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who competed for her native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. There the resident of Delta, British Columbia
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
won a bronze medal in the 4x100m Medley Relay, alongside Anne Ottenbrite
Anne Ottenbrite
Anne Ottenbrite is a former breaststroke swimmer from Canada, who competed for her native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There she won three medals: gold , silver , and bronze...
, Reema Abdo
Reema Abdo
Reema Abdo is a former backstroke swimmer, who was born in the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and competed for Canada at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There the resident of Picton, Ontario won the bronze medal in the 4x100m Medley Relay, alongside Anne Ottenbrite,...
, and Michelle MacPherson
Michelle MacPherson
Michelle MacPherson is a former backstroke and butterfly swimmer from Canada, who competed for her native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There the resident of Chandler, Arizona won the bronze medal in the 4×100 m medley relay, alongside Anne Ottenbrite, Reema...
. Rai represented Canada as a youth from 1976-1979 and was a member of Canada's National Swim Team from 1980-1987. Rai competed in many international events over the span of her career. Other notable awards include University of Victoria Athlete of the Year, City of Victoria Athlete of the Year, Hapoel Games silver, Pan American Games silver, Commonwealth Games gold medals. Rai swam for the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
in British Columbia, Canada. She graduated with a degree in Sociology and went on to attain an Education degree from the University of British Columbia. Rai is high school special education teacher and a certified yoga instructor trained in Netala, India in the Sivananda Yoga
Sivananda Yoga
Sivananda Yoga, after teachings of Swami Sivananda, is a non-proprietary form of hatha yoga in which the training focuses on preserving the health and wellness of the practitioner. Sivananda Yoga teachers are all graduates of the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course, and students widely range in...
lineage. Rai owns and operates Silent Motion Yoga Vedanta Centre on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo, British Columbia. Rai is a member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame
BC Sports Hall of Fame
For over 40 years, the community has entrusted the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the responsibility to collect, preserve, study, and interpret materials that relate to British Columbia’s rich sport history...
, the Swim BC Hall of Fame and the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. Rai is the first woman of Indian ancestry to win an Olympic medal.