Pamela Rai

Pamela Leila Rai
Rai with bronze medal, 1984 Olympics
Personal information
Full namePamela Leila Rai
Nickname
"Pam"
National teamCanada
Born (1966-03-29) March 29, 1966
Occupation(s)Swim coach, teacher
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubHyack Swim Club
College teamUniversity of Victoria
CoachJohn Campbell, Ron Jacks (Hyack)
Dr. Peter Vizsolyi (UVictoria)
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing Canada
Olympic Games
1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m medley
Pan American Games
1983 Caracas 4×100 m freestyle
Commonwealth Games
1986 Edinburgh 4×100 m freestyle

Pamela Leila Rai (born March 29, 1966, in New Westminster, BC, Canada) is a former freestyle and butterfly swimmer who competed for the University of Victoria, and represented Canada at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, capturing a bronze medal and setting a new Canadian record in the 4 × 100-metre medley relay. She became not only the first Canadian Olympic medalist of Indian descent, but the first woman of Indian ancestry to win an Olympic medal. A former Canadian record holder in several events, Rai successfully represented Canada through 1986 at international meets including the Pan American and Commonwealth games. After her time as a swimming competitor, she served as a swim coach, and high school English and math teacher in greater Vancouver.