Meet Silken
Welcome.
I'm a storyteller at heart, a lover of sharing tales and a listener to countless journeys. Some of you will remember my Olympic journey, where my shattered bones exposed a resilience that surprised even me; and it’s something I’ve nurtured and carried with me. My life after the medals has been an unfolding story, full of laughter, reflection, and the power of connection.
Today, I’m focused on the transformative power of storytelling. Through it, we heal, we grow, and we connect. I'm the proud author of the best-selling book, “Unsinkable,” and the heart and voice behind the original Podcast “Inflection Time.” These are just two ways I stay anchored to values like honesty, vulnerability and empathy, which are deeply important to me.
So while Olympic glory might have defined a chapter of my life, I’m working to ensure my legacy is richer than just medals; and I invite you on this journey with me.
Life is about embracing joy, laughter, and a healthy dose of fun. Together, let's embrace all the new stories that unfold every day.
1992 & 1993 Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year.
1993 Canadian Olympic Association Award of Merit
1994 Meritorious Service Cross
1995 Canadian Olympic Order
Driven by the competition, Laumann was the gold medal favourite at Atlanta 1996. Despite a mid-race challenge in the final race of her career, Laumann finished second in the single sculls, ending her Olympic career with a silver medal, for an all-time total of one silver and two bronze.
1998 inducted into Canada’s sports Hall of Fame.
2002 Queens Golden Jubilee Medal
Silken was a Member of the International Board of Directors for Right to Play, from 2000 - 2015, an international development agency dedicated to reintroducing play into the lives of children in disadvantaged areas around the world.
2006 Globe and mail list of most influential women in Canada and listed in top 100 Most Powerful women by Women’s Executive Network
Silken was a Member of the International Board of Directors for Right to Play, from 2000 - 2015, an international development agency dedicated to reintroducing play into the lives of children in disadvantaged areas around the world.
Founded Unsinkable in 2019
Four-time Olympian Canada’s Silken Laumann made her first Olympic appearance rowing in double sculls with her sister Daniele at Los Angeles 1984, capturing the bronze medal. After her sister retired, Laumann rowed in double sculls with Kay Worthington at Seoul 1988, but after finishing a disappointing seventh, Laumann focused almost exclusively on the single sculls.
Laumann dominated women’s sculling in 1991, becoming the world champion, and with Barcelona 1992 on the horizon, she was the overwhelming gold medal favourite. Seventy-three days prior to the Games, Laumann’s right leg was shattered in a warm-up area in Essen, Germany when a Germany men’s crew rammed into her shell. Told she would never row again, after five operations and a desire to prove her doctors wrong, Laumann arrived at Barcelona 1992 walking with a cane to her boat. She finished second in her qualifying heat, won her semifinal and gutted it out for bronze in the final, bringing tears to the eyes of her Canadian fans who had risen in the middle of the night to witness a miracle live on Canadian television. Laumann had rowed a race that transcended medals. Her courageous comeback and determination spoke to people’s imaginations and she was admired from coast to coast with legendary status.