Winners: Debbie Brill, Athletics
Debbie Brill competes in the high jump at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Date:July 29, 1984
Collection:CP PHOTO/ COC
1971 - Feature Story
Two outstanding track and field athletes named Debbie each won the 1971 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award. Debbie Van Kiekebelt was a pentathlete, a multi-events competitor with high jump her strongest discipline. Debbie Brill was a high jump specialist and innovator.
In 1970, 16-year-old Debbie Brill of Haney, British Columbia, showcased her innovative back-flip “Brill Bend” to clear the bar and became the first North American woman to jump six feet. She went on to win a Gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, so it was no surprise in 1971 when she won the women’s high jump Gold medal at the Pan American Games in Cali, Columbia with a Pan American Games record leap of 1.85m.
Career Highlights
- 1982 Gold medal in high jump at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia
- 1979 Gold medal in high jump at the Montreal International Track and Field Competition
- 1971 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (Canada’s female athlete of the year)
- 1971 Gold medal in high jump at the Pan American Games in Cali, Columbia
- 1970 Gold medal in high jump at the British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland
Debbie Brill competes in the high jump at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Date: July 29, 1984
Collection: CP PHOTO/ COC
Debbie Brill wins the Bronze medal for Canada in the women’s high jump at the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Date: July 1, 1979
Collection: CP Photo/COC/R. Warren
Debbie Brill competes in the high jump at the 1979 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico.
Date: July 1, 1979
Collection: CP Photo/COC/R. Warren
With her eyes closed, Debbie Brill moves the bar in attempt to clear it.
Date: July 1, 1979
Collection: CP Photo/COC/R. Warren
