Print the Biography/Short

Heather Carruthers

Canada

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSCAN20401199301
NOCCanada
Born04 Jan 1993 in  Winnipeg
GenderWomen
OccupationAthlete
LanguagesEnglish, French
Higher educationSociology - University of Calgary: Canada
ResidenceCalgary, AB, CAN
Other namesHeather McLean
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 37.27 09 Mar 2019 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:14.36 26 Feb 2017 Calgary  
    1500m 1:58.87 04 Jan 2019 Calgary  
    3000m 4:31.69 16 Feb 2013 Calgary  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    Team Sprint   1    
General Interest
General Interest
Awards and honoursShe was named the 2012 Junior Female Athlete of the Year for speed skating at Sport Manitoba's Night of Champions award ceremony in Canada. (teammanitoba.ca, 30 Apr 2012)

She was presented with the 2011 Outstanding Achievement Award in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. (teammanitoba.ca, 30 Apr 2012)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?She began skating at age two in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.  
General Interest
General Interest
NicknamesIggy [a nickname she acquired while skating at St. James Speed Skating Club]. (winnipegreepress.com, 2011)  
Other informationBREAK
She decided to take some time away from the sport after competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, where she was ranked 27th in the women's 500m. She did not train for 10 months and did not compete on the World Cup circuit during the 2022/23 season. "I was very disappointed with my performance and result. Leading into that season, I wasn't in a great place. I was battling injury, and after those Games, I definitely considered retirement, but I didn't want to leave the sport feeling bitter about it. I had moved to Calgary [AB, Canada] in 2011 and I had my foot on the gas up until 2022. That amount of years without really ever taking a break mentally or physically was pretty taxing. I feel like I had a weight lifted off my shoulders and I was able to reset." (winnipegfreepress.com, 16 Jan 2024)

FORERUNNER
She was a forerunner at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. The role involved skating round the track before each round of events to test that the timing system was working. "I had the most amazing three weeks of my life in Vancouver." (heather-mclean.com, 19 Aug 2014)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has served as an ambassador for Fast and Female, which aims to promote the participation of young women in sport. (X profile, 02 Jul 2019; cscm.ca, 11 Oct 2017)
 
Social Media
Social Media
instagram.com/heathmclean  
General Interest
General Interest
InjuriesShe was affected by injury while competing at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (winnipegfreepress.com, 16 Jan 2024)

She has broken her leg during her career. (Athlete, 03 Dec 2015)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHer brothers were involved in the sport. "I remember thinking in grade five that I wanted to train on the national team and go to the Olympics."  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHer parents. (Athlete, 03 Dec 2015)  
Hero / IdolDutch-born Canadian speed skater Ted-Jan Bloemen. (Athlete, 03 Dec 2015)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"If you're not winning, you're learning." (Athlete, 03 Dec 2015)  
Social Media
Social Media
twitter.com/heathleemc  
General Interest
General Interest
HobbiesGardening. (toronto.citynews.ca, 13 Feb 2022)  
AmbitionsTo compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (winnipegfreepress.com, 16 Jan 2024)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Training RegimeShe trains at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB, Canada.  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Team Sprint2  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 500m5  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 500m7  
    2016/2017 World Sprint Championships Overall7  
    2020/2021 World Single Distances Championships 1000m9  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m9  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 500m10  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships 1000m12  
    2018/2019 World Sprint Championships Overall12  
    2015/2016 World Sprint Championships Overall12  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 500m14  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m14  
    2019/2020 World Sprint Championships Overall15  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 1000m19  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships 1000m19  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m22  
    2023/2024 World Single Distances Championships 500m23  
    2014/2015 World Sprint Championships Overall23  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps23  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m25  
    2022 Olympic Games 500m27  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2018/2019 Tomakomai Team Sprint3  
    2015/2016 Calgary, AB Team Sprint3  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2015/2016 Stavanger 500m3  
    2015/2016 Inzell 500m3  
    2020/2021 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 500m8  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 500m11  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m13  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 500m14  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m15  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 1000m18  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Overall20  
    2020/2021 World Cup Classification 1000m22  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m22  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 500m23  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m26  
    2023/2024 World Cup Classification 500m34  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m37  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m38  
    2021/2022 World Cup Classification 1000m49  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m55