Hilda May Binns Longmate

1945 - 2022

October 20, 1945 - August 4, 2022

Sadly, our Golden Girl is gone. Hilda May Binns Longmate, Hamilton's own internationally recognized Para Olympian and Pan Am athlete has left the starting line in her final race which, no doubt, will end at the Celestial Golden Gates.
Hilda passed at home with her loving husband of 32 years, Charles Longmate, at her side. Hilda had no children but nieces and nephews whom she adored: Lori, Beth, Jody, Jani, Kim, Tami, Donna-Lyn, David and Jeff were like her own, and they affectionately called her by her nickname, Antique. She is forever in the hearts of sisters Betty Kaczmarczyk, Iris Rankin, and brothers Steve (Brenda) Torok, and Rudy (Rose) Torok.
Stricken at age 9 with Polio, Hilda developed remarkable arm and upper body strength, and her legendary arm strength in particular, was instrumental in allowing her to become the fastest Women's Wheelchair Athlete in the world. She also set a world swimming record for the fastest 25 meter swim. She won the first ever Gold Medal at the Para Olympic Games in Canada's inaugural start in 1968, and by the time her multi athletic career ended in 1972 (track, swimming, basketball), she had won 58 medals: 6 Para Olympic medals, 18 Pan American medals and 34 Canadian Championships medals.
Hilda is an inductee of the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction, the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame, and a recent recipient of the Queens Platinum Jubilee Award. She was also Champion of Champions in 2012. Her many accomplishments have also been documented in the book, "For the Record: Canada's Greatest Females Athletes". She was a founding member of the Ontario Wheelchair Association and was the National Membership Convener for the Canadian Wheelchair Association. She was always a strong advocate for disability accessibility.
Hilda worked at Chambers and Co. and continued to meet with her fellow workers for Christmas parties and summer BBQ's. Hilda became a motivational speaker and showed her medals to school children. She would challenge them to be the best that they could be. She loved to tell them: "Everyone has a disability - some you can see, some you can't see - but it's your ability to deal with it that will lead to your success."
Hilda was a kind and giving person and will be missed by all who knew her. She was comforted in her final hours by her husband Charles Chuck Longmate and her friend Dawn (whom Hilda called her adopted daughter).
Funeral Visitation at Circle of Life Cremation and Burial Centre, 100 King Street East, Dundas, Ontario on Friday, August 12, 2022 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. and 5 pm. - 8 p.m. (additional parking at the Air Force Club).
Interment at White Chapel Memorial Gardens, 1895 Main St W Hamilton, Ontario on Monday, August 15, 2022 at 1 p.m.

Condolences, memories and photos may be left at www.circleoflifecbc.com