Linda McCurdy

Linda McCurdy claims her journey into the world of track and field, specifically high jump, came as a result of her desire to be just like her sister. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, she ran at Southwood Elementary before beginning her high school career at Vincent Massey. As a grade 9 student, she earned a bronze medal in high jump at the OFSAA championships. Changing schools the following year, her time at Lansing Everett in Michigan saw her earn a fifth place at the Michigan state track championships. She returned to Windsor the following year and finished her high school career with the W.D. Lowe Trojans. Earning the OFSAA high jump gold a record-setting three years in a row, McCurdy also earned medals at the Canada National Junior High Jump Championships, the Junior Pan American Track and Field Championships, and the Canadian Summer Games.

Her accomplishments certainly did not go unnoticed, as several American schools were interested in recruiting her for their track and field programs. McCurdy eventually accepted a full scholarship to the University of Texas El Paso, earning All-American honours and becoming a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA. Even though she attended college in the United States, she still competed for the Canadian national team throughout her four years. After graduation, she continued to compete, earning four Canadian Senior High Jump Championships, placing 10th at both the 1986 and 1990 Commonwealth Games, and earning gold at the 1992 Canadian Olympic Trials.

For her outstanding athletic achievements, McCurdy was inducted to the Windsor-Essex Sports Hall of Fame in the class of 2016. A believer in the philosophy of athletic commitment, she continuously made sacrifices in order to drive her performances and to become a better competitor. While she may believe that she did not truly accomplish what she set out to do as an athlete, the recognition of her performances exemplifies her drive and dedication to sport and demonstrates her contribution to the rich narrative of African-Canadian sporting history in southwestern Ontario.^[1]

Researched and written by Mark McWhinney, University of Windsor student