Jane S. Thornton (born 9 July 1978) is a Canadian Sport Medicine Physician,[2] Associate Professor,[3] World Champion and Olympicrower, and international advocate for physical activity. She serves as the incoming Director of the Medical and Scientific Department for the International Olympic Committee, succeeding Dr. Richard Budgett as of his retirement in December 2024. Thornton is also President of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine[4] and holds the Canada Research Chair in Injury Prevention and Physical Activity for Health at the University of Western Ontario.[5] She was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.[6]
She was a member of Canada's National team for over a decade, winning a gold medal at the 2006 World Rowing Championships in the women's coxless pairs with Darcy Marquardt.[7] Although Thornton and Marquardt qualified in that event for the Olympics at the 2007 World Rowing Championships, their teammates in the Canadian women's eights failed to quality.[8] Thornton and Marquardt were then moved into the women's eights where, sitting in stroke pair, they earned that crew's Olympic berth in the final Olympic qualification event in June 2008, just two months before the Games.[9]
Thornton earned a BSc, MSc and Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Sport Medicine from the University of Western Ontario before attending medical school at the University of Toronto, where she added an MD to her list of academic credentials.
International rowing
From 2001 to 2011, Thornton competed as a member of Canada's National Rowing Team.
One of her chief accomplishments during this time was an undefeated international season in the Women's Pair with partner Darcy Marquardt that culminated in victory at the 2006 World Rowing Championships at Eton-Dorney, UK. The duo qualified the Women's Pair for the Beijing 2008 Olympics at the 2007 World Rowing Championships.
Other notable accomplishments representing Canada during this period include three Canadian National Championship titles in the Women's Pair, three World Cup podium performances in the Women's Pair and Eight, Commonwealth Rowing Championship wins in the Women's Single and Qruple Sculls and gold at the World University Rowing Championships in the Women's Single and Double Sculls.[1][11]
Rowing Canada has recognised Thornton with three separate awards: the Rowing Canada Aviron Award of Merit (the highest award conferred by Rowing Canada) "in recognition of exceptional service to rowing as a competitive athlete"; the Rowing Canada Aviron Centennial Medal for outstanding contribution to Canadian rowing; and the Rowing Canada Aviron International Achievement Award.[16]
Social responsibility
In 2015, Thornton was awarded the AthletesCAN Athlete Social Responsibility Award for her efforts to provide mentorship, inspiration and leadership to developing athletes within Canada's rowing community as well as her contributions to push forward the promotion and recognition of athlete social responsibility internationally.[17]
Thornton has additionally been involved as an Athlete Ambassador at Right to Play Canada, in which capacity she travelled to Uganda in 2009.[18]
International experience
During the course of her education and athletic pursuits, Thornton sought out many international experiences to complement her research, including further medical training in six different countries.
She has developed educational resources and medical curricula in Switzerland, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and Canada and lectures on the topic internationally.[19]
Selected publications
Thornton has contributed to a number of publications in leading medical journals including the following:
Thornton, Jane S.; Vinther, Anders; Wilson, Fiona; Lebrun, Constance M.; Wilkinson, Mike; Di Ciacca, Stephen R.; Orlando, Karen; Smoljanovic, Tomislav (2016). "Rowing Injuries: An Updated Review". Sports Medicine. 47 (4): 641–661. doi:10.1007/s40279-016-0613-y. ISSN0112-1642. PMID27577685. S2CID6595422.
Gates, Ann B; Kerry, Roger; Moffatt, Fiona; Ritchie, Ian K; Meakins, Adam; Thornton, Jane S; Rosenbaum, Simon; Taylor, Alan (2017). "Movement for movement: exercise as everybody's business?". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 51 (10): 767–768. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-096857. ISSN0306-3674. PMID27797742. S2CID206882372.
