Karen Low is an Edmonton-born alpine skier who won two bronze medals for Team Canada at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Over six years, she also claimed seven Canadian national championship titles. For her outstanding contributions to sports, she was inducted into the Order of Canada and the Canada Sports Hall of Fame. More at iedmonton.net.
Early Life and Childhood
Karen was born and raised in Edmonton as one of four children of Heather and Jerry Percy. At just five years old, she developed an interest in skiing, prompting her parents to enroll her in a sports academy.
When Karen was in third grade, her family relocated to Banff, Alberta, where she joined the Banff Ski Runners and Nancy Greene League.
By tenth grade, Low left formal schooling to fully dedicate herself to skiing. A key part of her training regimen included running from her family’s chalet in Banff to Mount Norquay. She later completed high school through distance education.
Early Career and Progression
Karen began competing in alpine skiing at age 12. Unlike many skiers who focus on one or two disciplines, she competed in multiple alpine skiing events throughout her teenage years. At 15, she won silver in downhill skiing at the 1981 Canadian Junior Championships in Fortress Mountain, Alberta.
In 1983, she competed in her first of seven consecutive Canadian national championships, finishing fifth in super-G and sixth in downhill. The following year, she joined Canada’s National Women’s Alpine Ski Team and won a downhill race at the European Cup.
Her first World Cup medal came on March 3, 1986, in Sunshine Village, Alberta, near her hometown of Banff. She placed third in the women’s downhill event with a time of 1:33.44. That same year, she ranked 18th in the World Cup downhill standings, making her the third-highest-ranked Canadian skier. She also won both the downhill and super-G events at the Canadian National Alpine Championships.
In 1987, Low once again finished as Canada’s third-ranked downhill skier, securing 20th place in the World Cup standings. Leading up to the 1988 Winter Olympics, she delivered impressive performances in Switzerland, earning bronze and silver medals.
At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Team Canada struggled to secure gold in full Olympic events but still managed to win five medals. Karen Low was the only multi-medalist for Canada at these Games.
On February 22, 1988, she earned a bronze medal in the women’s giant slalom, finishing third overall.
Following the Olympics, she won two additional World Cup medals. On February 5, 1989, she finished second in a downhill event and claimed three gold medals at the Canadian National Championships.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Karen Low is actively involved in charity work. She collaborates with several nonprofit organizations, working alongside her husband as a longtime supporter of Waterkeeper Alliance, an initiative dedicated to protecting and increasing Canada’s freshwater reserves.
Low is also the founder of the North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper organization, which works to preserve the North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton’s primary water source. Additionally, she has partnered with the Zebra Child Protection Centre, Compassion House, and the GO Community Centre in Edmonton.
Karen Low’s remarkable career is a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Her success in skiing and her commitment to community service make her an inspiring figure both in Canadian sports and beyond.