By Mariana Echeverri Alvarez, Communications Coordinator
Photo credit: Special Olympics Manitoba
Brita Hall: A Champion’s Journey in Special Olympics
Brita Hall is a decorated Special Olympics Manitoba athlete with six World Games gold medals. Over her 44-year career, Hall has excelled in multiple sports, including cross-country skiing, track and field, golf, and alpine skiing.
When Hall was only nine weeks old, a car accident changed the course of her life and the lives of her parents forever. Doctors gave her only a 10 per cent chance to ever walk or talk.
But at age five, she defied medical odds by learning to skate, a breakthrough that propelled her into the world of sports. She won her first gold medal in the 800m race at the 1980 Provincial Summer Games, setting the stage for an illustrious career.
Achievements on the World Stage
Hall’s international debut came at the 1993 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, where she earned two golds and a silver in cross-country skiing. The following year, she represented Canada at the Lillehammer Paralympics, placing 4th in her category. She later competed at the 1998 Paralympics in Nagano.
In 2003, Hall competed in track and field at the World Summer Games in Raleigh, North Carolina, winning silver and bronze. Four years later, she secured another gold at the World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. Her last international appearance was in 2016 at the National Winter Games in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.
A Lifelong Passion for Sport
Throughout her remarkable journey, Brita’s mother, Birgit Hall, reflected on the impact of Special Olympics on her daughter’s life.
“Brita loves her sports and the socialization she gets from being around the other athletes. Special Olympics has changed Brita’s life, allowing her to develop and perfect so many skills. Her participation has given her opportunities to grow, travel, gain confidence, and learn self-discipline.”
Hall has been recognized with numerous awards, including Special Olympics Canada Female Athlete of the Year in 2005 and the Dr. Frank Hayden Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
She has also received eight “Gold Award of Excellence in Sport” honours from the Province of Manitoba. In addition, she has received three levels of the “Duke of Edinburgh Award,” which is designed to encourage youth to set and achieve goals through self-development, self-training, and personal achievement, based upon individual effort and improvement.
She was presented with the Bronze Award by Winnipeg Mayor Bill Norrie, the Silver Award by Lt. Governor George Johnson, and the Gold Award by His Royal Highness Prince Edward when he visited Winnipeg in 1990. She was the first person with an intellectual disability to ever receive these awards in Manitoba.
Continuing Her Legacy
Currently, Hall is training as part of the Special Olympics Team Canada Training Squad 2025. She hopes to medal at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, next February. Above all, she continues to inspire those around her with her unwavering dedication and infectious smile.
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Celebrate Brita Hall and all of our honourees at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, taking place on Thursday, November 7, at the Victoria Inn. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the Ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m.
Get your tickets now and be part of this memorable evening.
