UBC Athletics is proud to announce the 2026 Class of Inductees into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. This year's distinguished honourees include three exceptional athletes, and a history-making team – all of whom exemplifies the values of excellence, leadership and commitment to their sport both at UBC and beyond.
 
The UBC Athletics Hall of Fame serves as a testament to the university's storied athletic tradition. Each inductee has been chosen not only for their individual success but for the profound impact they have had on their sport and the UBC community as a whole. As part of Canada's most decorated varsity athletics program, this year's inductees join a prestigious group of alumni who have helped shape the legacy of Thunderbird athletics.
 
The UBC Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place next week with an intimate reception hosted by UBC's President. The event offers a chance to reflect on the significant contributions of the inductees and celebrate their lasting impact on Thunderbird sports. 

ATHLETE

Martha McCabe

During her four years at UBC, from 2008 to 2012, Martha McCabe not only excelled academically as a Kinesiology graduate but also blossomed into a formidable athlete and leader. She played an instrumental role in the success of the UBC Thunderbirds swimming program, securing two national championships with the team in 2008 and 2012, and an impressive three Canada West Championships. Her individual prowess in the 200m breaststroke was evident through her consecutive CIS national titles in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The culmination of her collegiate career saw the UBC women's team dominate the 2012 nationals, winning by a remarkable margin of over 200 points against the next closest competitor. Martha's outstanding performance and leadership were recognized with UBC's prestigious 2012 May Brown Trophy for outstanding graduating athlete. 

Martha's impact extended far beyond the UBC campus. She proudly represented Canada as a two-time Olympian in the 200m breaststroke, competing at both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. At the London 2012 Games, she achieved an impressive 5th place finish in the 200m breaststroke, solidifying her status among the world's elite. In recognition of her stellar 2012 season, she was named Female Swimmer of the Year at Swimming Canada's Big Splash Awards.

Her international achievements include a bronze medal at the 2011 FINA World Championships, where she truly found her place on the global stage. She consistently performed at the highest level, advancing to her third straight world championship 200m breaststroke final in 2013. Even when faced with adversity, such as a stress fracture in her right clavicle in 2014, Martha demonstrated incredible resilience, earning spots on the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships teams and making the 200m breaststroke final at both events. Her tenacity was further highlighted by her silver medal win in the 200m breaststroke at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. Her career culminated as co-captain of the Canadian Olympic swimming team at Rio 2016, where she swam her last competitive race. 

Beyond her remarkable athletic career, Martha McCabe has made significant contributions to her sport and community. Upon her retirement, driven by a desire to inspire the next generation, she founded Head to Head Canada. This innovative organization provides vital mentorship to youth through club and school programs, focusing on mental resilience, physical wellness, and life skills development. The idea for Head to Head was sparked by a cross-Canada drive where Martha conducted 55 workshops in 60 days at over 45 swim clubs and schools from Victoria, BC to St. John's, NL, confirming the immense appetite for Olympian-led mentorship. Through Head to Head, she has created a sustainable platform for other Olympians to share their experiences and help young people navigate challenges like managing nerves, building resilience through adversity, and establishing healthy habits.

Mark Norman



Mark Norman's exceptional football career began with an outstanding high school run in Kamloops, where he was a key contributor to the Kamloops Secondary 1981 provincial championship team. He then began his post-secondary career at UBC, where he became a defensive star for some of the Thunderbirds' best teams from 1983 to 1986. Norman's impact at UBC was truly historic, leading him to set and/or currently hold multiple Canada West Conference and UBC records as a defensive back. His single-season records include a Canada West best 13 interceptions, an astonishing five interception touchdowns, and a Canada West record 451 interception return yards. 

Norman's dominance on the field led to numerous accolades. He was named a Canada West All-Star and an All-Canadian in both 1985 and 1986. The peak of his university career came in 1986 when he was awarded the Frank Gnup Memorial Trophy as the Canada West Player of the Year and was the West's nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy. That same year, he won the national President's Trophy as the CIS Most Outstanding Defensive Player, a fitting tribute as he led Frank Smith's UBC Thunderbirds to a triumphant victory in the 1986 Vanier Cup, marking one of the program's best-ever seasons.

Following his remarkable university career, Norman was drafted in the third round by the Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) of the CFL. He played five years as a defensive back for the Eskimos, helping them win the Grey Cup in 1987, becoming one of the few British Columbia players to achieve the feat of playing on both a Vanier Cup and a Grey Cup winning team. His lasting legacy was further recognized with his selection to the inaugural class of the Canada West Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and his induction into the BC Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Leonard Edwin "Fast Eddie" Wild



For four straight seasons, this six-foot, bespeckled speedster was the undeniable engine of T-Birds Basketball. Ed Wild's aggressive ball handling and explosive speed made him a both a relentless defender and a consistent scoring threat. Whether it be with impressive long shots or feeding the ball to taller teammates like John McLeod, "Fast Eddie" did it all. An annual Big Block winner, Ed's greatest triumph came in the '55 – '56 season; he was instrumental in UBC's first ever victory at the Totem Invitational Trophy over the favoured Pacific Lutheran Gladiators.

As a starting player on the BC Totem's provincial all-star team, Fast Eddie's energy and sensational defensive skills as a guard were on full display through fantastic performances at both the Semi-Final and Final Matches of the Olympic Trial qualifiers. He stole the show; out-thinking, outmaneuvering, and outracing his check continually. His game, characterized by determination and grit, were principal forces in securing British Columbia's very first Olympic basketball team! Ed Wild was the only genuine university student on the entire 1956 Canadian Olympic Squad that headed to Melbourne. Characteristic of his youth, Ed forgot his Olympic strip at home before boarding the plane!

In his final season at UBC, Ed took the captain's reins, becoming the team's top scorer and a humble, level-headed leader. He took a young guard named Ken Winslade under his wing, helping form what has been called "one of the finest guard combinations in UBC Thunderbird history." That year, Ed's hard work and determination were reflected in him being the Evergreen Conference's 10^th Top Scorer, and was ultimately recognized by UBC with the Bobby Gaul Trophy; an award earned by a graduating athlete who best demonstrates combined leadership and sportsmanship.

A great all-around athlete, between basketball seasons, Fast Eddie participated in the local Industrial Baseball League as a pitcher, and played Exhibition Matches at the Evergreen Conference for the UBC T-Birds. In his graduating year, he led the CYO Raiders as Champions of the Industrial League; triumphing over the likes of local legends like the Boilermakers, Nisei, and White Spots.

After his UBC career ended, Ed Wild maintained his basketball skills in the Vancouver Senior Men's League. Playing for teams like the Dee-Cees and C-Funners, he played against notable local teams like the Harlem Nocturnes, visiting teams like the Harlem Globetrotters, and even, the UBC T-Birds themselves! Fast Eddie was invited to play in the 1959 World Championships in Chile, where he helped Canada defeat the Soviet Union for a historic first time victory with a stunning 63 – 54 upset victory.

Passing on in 2020, he had built a beautiful life with his wife, Denise O'Brien, whom he met in the Olympic Village so many years ago in Melbourne.

TEAM

1974 Men's Soccer Team



1974 T-Birds squad was led by legendary coach Joe Johnson who had been in the position since 1961 and during his time had taken the program to the next level. Johnson, a native of Scotland was previously an outstanding athlete and star soccer player having played professionally with the Glasgow Rangers from 1946 until 1955. Johnson's passion for the game was infectious to his players.
 
The 1974 team was led by Canadian international goalkeeper Greg Weber, an experienced back four of Phil Sanford, Roy Zuyderduyn, Bob Baker and Terry Thompson. Moving up the pitch it was Daryl Sampson in the middle of the midfield, and Brian Budd at center forward.
 
After an undefeated tour of Colorado and Northern California in October, the T-Birds won the Canada West tournament (there was no league at that time) on its home turf.  The finals were hosted by Loyola College (now merged with Concordia University) in very cold weather on a small, bumpy, hard pitch in West Montreal.
 
UBC beat Dalhousie 1 - 0 on a lovely shot from distance by Daryl Sampson and went through to the final game against Loyola.  UBC took the lead on a goal in the first-half from Ray Webster, then gave up a tying goal in the second half.  Late in the game, after a number of near misses by the 'Birds, Brian Budd scored another goal from distance and UBC held on to win 2 – 1 and claim their first-ever national title for UBC men's soccer. 

Weber, Samson and Budd all went on to play soccer for Canada and professionally with the Vancouver Whitecaps. As well, John Nelson (left mid-field) went on to play professionally for Cincinnati in the Major Indoor Soccer League.