Angela Chalmers was one of Canada’s finest female distance runners and one of the country’s few Aboriginal Olympians. Born in Manitoba, Chalmers moved to Victoria as a young girl. She was a track star at Northern Arizona University where she was an eight-time All-American.

In 1984 she won the bronze medal in the 3000 metres at the World University Games and competed for Canada in several cross-country events. In 1987 she won a silver medal at the Pan American Games and a year later took part in her first Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Her international breakthrough came two years later when she won gold in the 1500 and 3000m events at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

In 1992, Chalmers won an Olympic bronze in the 3000 metres at the Olympic Games in Barcelona. Two years later in her adopted hometown, she defended her 3000 metre crown at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria where she was also the opening ceremony flag bearer.

Chalmers was a respected spokeswoman for Aboriginal empowerment throughout her involvement with sport. In 1995 she received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in Sports. She now resides in Australia with her husband and two children.