Fanny Rosenfeld, 100 m and 400 m Relay, 1928

There are few international events that enjoy the reputation of the Olympic Games. Launched a century ago this year, the modern Olympics offer a turbulent world the important opportunity to seek peace and unity through athletic competition. This summer, athletes from around the world will continue the tradition by competing at the Olympics Games in Atlanta, Georgia, and Canada's best will be there in force. To mark the centenary, and to honour the contribution made by our athletes over a hundred years, Canada Post Corporation is pleased to unveil a new series of five domestic rate stamps featuring Canadian gold medalists. Fanny "Bobbie" Rosenfeld (1905-1969) was the quintessential well-rounded athlete. Born in Russia and raised in Barrie, Ontario, she participated in hockey, softball, basketball, track and field, and tennis. At the 1925 Ontario Ladies' Track and Field Championship, she placed first in five events and second in two - all in one afternoon! At the 1928 Olympics she crossed the finish line in the 100 metre event a fraction of a second behind her competitor. Groans turned to cheers in the following days when she and her team placed first in the 400 metre relay. Even though severe arthritis took her off the field later in life, Bobbie offered her expertise as a sports columnist with the Toronto "Globe and Mail". She was elected to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1949 and voted Canada's outstanding female athlete of the half century in 1950. The new Sporting Heroes series was designed by Mark Koudis of Atlanta Art and Design Inc. of Toronto. His first work for Canada Post, the series features evocative sepia toned photographs of these five prominent medalists with the athlete's name, the event and year of victory prominent in the design. The five rings of the Olympics are faintly visible in the centre of each stamp.