Athlete

Kay Worthington - 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee

Kay Worthington
Induction Year: 2024
Category: Athlete

Worthington developed her elite rowing skills in her hometown of Toronto as a member of both the Argonaut Rowing Club and Hanlan Boat Club. She started rowing at Carleton University in Ottawa in the fall of 1978 and transferred to the University of Toronto where she rowed from 1979-83. She embarked on her national team career in 1981, placing fourth in the women’s eight in her first senior world rowing championships.

“If I think about the catalysts in my career it would have to be my coaches: Jack Nicholson, Fred Loek and Al Morrow provided the guidance and the platform for me to succeed,” said Worthington. “The physical training was one component, but the mental preparation was another. I realize now that the most important thing they gave me was confidence in my ability to compete at the highest level. Jack, Fred and Al prepared us to compete with the best on the international stage and I am grateful to them.”

Just one year after graduating from U of T, Worthington qualified for her first of three Olympics in 1984, just missing out on a medal by placing fourth in the women’s eight. She changed boats four years later at the 1988 Olympics, where she finished seventh teaming with Silken Laumann in the double sculls. Following the 1988 Games, Worthington briefly retired from the national team but came back in time for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, where she would see her greatest success as a rower.

Worthington became a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Barcelona. She was a last-minute substitute in the women’s coxless fours to win her first gold medal, and the following day she won her second gold medal in the women’s eight. In addition to her Olympic success, Kay won many medals at international regattas and attended the World Rowing Championships every year from 1981-87. Her outstanding rowing career has been honoured with inductions into the University of Toronto HOF (1993), the Canadian Olympic HOF (1994), Canada Sports Hall of Fame (2013) and Canadian Rowing Hall of Fame (2017).

Worthington retired from rowing after the 1992 Olympics but stayed close to the sport. She served as the Executive Director of the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA), where she organized and ran numerous regattas including the Women’s NCAA Championships, FISA World Masters Regatta and numerous high school events. She also became a sports commentator, working as a rowing analyst with CBC Sports, where she conducted interviews with national team members and commentated the rowing events during the 1996 & 2000 Olympic Games. Worthington currently serves as a Board Member for Oakland Strokes, a high school rowing team where she directs her energies towards increasing the participation of BIPOC children from Oakland in the club.

Career Highlights

  • 3-time Olympian, 2-time Olympic gold medalist
    • Gold – Women’s 8+ (1992)
    • Gold – Women’s 4- (1992)
    • 4th place – Women’s 8+ (1984)
    • 7th place – Women’s 2x (1988)
  • Competed at 7 World Rowing Championships
    • Raced in Women’s 8+, Women’s 4x and Women’s 1x
  • Attended 7 National Championships winning six gold and five silver medals
  • Started rowing at Carleton University (1978) and rowed at University of Toronto (1979-83)
  • Previously inducted into University of Toronto HOF (1993), Canadian Olympic HOF (1994), Canada Sports Hall of Fame (2013), and Canadian Rowing Hall of Fame (2017)
  • After retiring became Executive Director of the Princeton National Rowing Association and worked as a rowing analyst with CBC Sports