 A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, McBean competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the coxless pairs and eights events, winning gold medals in both.At the 1996 Summer Olympics she competed in the double and quadruple sculls, winning gold in the double and bronze in the quadruple.With her long-time rowing partner Kathleen Heddle, she was the first Canadians to win three Olympic Gold medals.