As a 15-year-old cadet with the Canadian Armed Forces, Myriam Bedard acquired the shooting skills that would take her not into combat but to the Olympics. Bedard combined these skills with her adeptness on skis to become one of the best biathletes that North America has ever produced. A member of Canada's national biathlon team from 1987-1998, Bedard won two national junior and three national senior titles early in her career. At the 1991 Biathlon World Cup events, she claimed three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, finishing second overall in the season. In a sport dominated by northern Europeans, this was the highest World Cup ranking ever achieved by a North American as well as the first World Cup gold medals captured by a Canadian biathlete. Bedard came onto the biathlon scene just in time to be included in the first women's Olympic biathlon event. She won a bronze medal in the 15km race at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France, becoming the first Canadian Olympic biathlon medalist. Bedard continued to rank in the top three at international events around Europe in 1993, including a gold medal win in the 7.5km event and a silver medal in the 15km race at the World Biathlon Championships in Borovets, Bulgaria. She again ranked second overall in World Cup Biathlon events. Bedard's best performance was at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, where she won gold medals in both the 7.5km and the 15km events. For her superior accomplishments, Bedard was awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy, Canada's premier athletic award. She also received the Velma Springstead Trophy for best Canadian female athlete, was named Canadian Athlete of the Year, and was dubbed Sports Personality of the Year. Bedard was the first biathlete to become an honoured member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.