Class of 2015: Builder
The timeless footprint that Cathy Dalton has left on synchronized skating extends far beyond Canada.
For close to four decades, she has been a pioneer for synchronized skating around the world.
Since 1996, Cathy has served as the Appointed Coach for the ISU Coaches Commission / ISU Synchronized Skating Technical Committee and was instrumental in the development of the International Judging System for Synchronized Skating. Displaying innovative thinking, vision and a devout passion for the sport, Cathy has had major influence on the creation of rules, standards and educational materials for synchronized skating and has shared her extensive knowledge in seminars for judges, skaters and coaches around the world.
At home, Cathy has enjoyed paramount success in coaching. Cathy began coaching singles and ice dance in 1975 and, four years later, stepped into the synchro coaching ranks. From 1979 to 1992, she coached several Whitby, Ontario-based senior, junior and novice teams to national championships. In 1993, Cathy and her sister, Susan Pettes, founded black ice, Canada’s first internationally successful synchronized skating team. Under Cathy’s direction, black ice went on to claim eight national titles at the senior level and won Canada’s first world medal, a silver at the 2000 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.
Cathy is currently the coach of team Meraki, the 2015 Canadian Bronze Medallists. In January 2016, Meraki, from the Leaside Skating Club, landed on the podium in their international debut, winning bronze at the Mozart Cup in Austria.
Cathy has twice been named the Ontario Female Coach of the Year (1999, 2010).
