University of British Columbia Athletics

UBC rower during the 1970s went on to win medals at seven world championships, a gold at the Commonwealth Games and a silver at the '84 Olympics. Selected to represent Canada at four Olympics.

Tricia Smith graduated from UBC in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and in 1985 with a degree in Law. The UBC campus however was blessed with having, in Tricia Smith, Canada's most internationally medalled athlete. In her 13 years as a member of Canada's rowing team, Tricia won a medal at seven world championships, a 1986 Commonwealth Games gold medal and a 1984 Olympic silver. In addition to these nine world- class event medals, she was first place finisher in seven other prestigious international rowing events. Also noteworthy is the fact that she is unique in UBC history having been selected to represent Canada at four Olympics - 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988. She was a UBC student for her '80 and '84 selections.

Smith, daughter of former UBC rugby star Marshall Smith and UBC basketball player Pat McIntosh Smith, was involved with UBC rowing from 1978 until 1981. She actually started her rowing at UBC in 1973, on UBC's first, albeit unofficial, women's team. Her long-time coach Alan Roaf, referred to her as an "unbelievable athlete" and admires her "tenacity, perseverance and competitive instinct". "She personifies excellence" according to Roaf. UBC's former Coordinator of Athletics, Kim Gordon, spoke of her loyalty, thoughtfulness and leadership. Former UBC athlete and Alumni president Charlotte Warren, expressed great admiration for Tricia - her courage and athletic ability.

A practising lawyer in Vancouver, Tricia also served as a member of UBC's Athletic Committee and as President of the UBC Alumni Association. Tricia also received the honour of being appointed to the Women's Commission of Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FlSA), the international rowing federation based in Switzerland. She is the first Canadian to be selected to this position.

In 2005 Tricia was elected to the Canadian Olympic Executive Committee and was appointed the Chef de Mission of Canada's team for the 2007 Pan American Games. Her selection was due to her background as a competitive athlete and Olympian and her volunteer roles with many international sport organizations plus (in the words of the COC president), her enthusiasm, leadership ability and dedication and the fact she has devoted much of her time and energy supporting and advancing amateur sport in Canada.

In 2015 Tricia was elected President of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), yet still retains ties with UBC as an inductee in both UBC and BC's Sports Halls of Fame and winner of the UBC Alumni Association Young Alumna award. In May 2001 she was the recipient of an Honourary Doctor of Laws Degree from UBC and in December 2010 was honoured with the Order of Canada. UBC is proud of its alumna Tricia Smith, one who has represented UBC so admirably on campus, nationally and internationally.

Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian