Sport BC announces the finalists to be celebrated at the upcoming 56th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards taking place on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The event, to be hosted by CBC’s Scott Russell, recognizes the province’s best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, teams, and officials for outstanding performances in their sport in the 2023 season. Each finalist was nominated by their Provincial or Multi-Sport Organization, High School, College, or University. The Selection Committee, led by long-serving Chair Bernie Pascall, included a diverse group of highly experienced British Columbia sport leaders and media members.
An additional six awards will be presented at the ceremony including the Best of BC, KidSport BC Community Champion, Harry Jerome Comeback, Daryl Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award and In Her Footsteps Honourees and the Bobbie Steen Legacy Foundation Award recipient.
“The Athlete of the Year Awards is a true celebration of sport in our province. The finalists listed below will be honoured at the event and represent exceptional efforts and accomplishments in 2023. We congratulate our finalists and the organizations they represent”, shares Sport BC’s President and CEO, Rob Newman. “We look forward to celebrating as a sector together on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The finalists represent 24 sports from communities all throughout BC demonstrating the collective strength of our province’s sport sector.”
Athlete with a Disability
- Yuka Chokyu (Vancouver, BC) – Badminton
- Bo Hedges (Wonowon, BC) – Wheelchair Basketball
- Mel Pemble (Victoria, BC) – Para Cycling (Track)
Female Coach of the Year
- Jane Gumley (Victoria, BC) – Rowing (UVIC)
- Sarah Hunter (Surrey, BC) – Wheelchair Tennis
- Keri Moffat (Richmond, BC) – Golf
Male Coach of the Year
- Dylan Armstrong (Kamloops, BC) – Athletics
- Victor Gantsevich (Richmond, BC) – Fencing
- Graham Thomas (Calgary, AB) – Ice Hockey (UBC)
High School Female Athlete of the Year
- Amelia Kristen (Vancouver, BC) – Athletics (Crofton House)
- Keira Pemberton (Langley, BC) – Basketball (Walnut Grove)
- Eva Ruse (North Vancouver, BC) – Basketball and Volleyball (Mulgrave)
High School Male Athlete of the Year
- Mark Johnson (Vernon, BC) – Football (Vernon Secondary)
- Yemane Mulugeta (Surrey, BC) – Athletics (L.A. Matheson)
- Nash Semeniuk (Kelowna, BC) – Basketball and Volleyball (Kelowna Secondary)
Junior Female Athlete of the Year
- Lauren Kim (Surrey, BC) – Golf
- Emmy Lan (Comox, BC) – Cycling
- Chloe Primerano (North Vancouver, BC) – Ice Hockey
Junior Male Athlete of the Year
- Nicholas Bennett (Parksville, BC) – Para Swimming
- Gavin Dodd (Kamloops, BC) – Gymnastics
- Tyson Philpot (Delta, BC) – Football
Senior Female Athlete of the Year
- Gabby Flynn (Burnaby, BC) – Gymnastics
- Megan Kinna (Maple Ridge, BC) – Lacrosse
- Camryn Rogers (Richmond, BC) – Athletics
Senior Male Athlete of the Year
- Jack Crawford – Alpine Skiing
- Dylan French (Richmond, BC) – Fencing
- Ethan Katzberg (Nanaimo, BC) – Athletics
Post Secondary Athlete of the Year
- Theo Benedet (North Vancouver, BC) – Football (UBC)
- Rowan Hamilton (Chilliwack, BC) – Athletics (UBC)
- Michael Henman (Victoria, BC) – Soccer (UNBC)
Team of the Year
- BC Female U18 Hockey
- TWU Spartans Men’s Volleyball
- UVIC Vikes Women’s Field Hockey
Master Athlete of the Year
- Betty Brussel (New Westminster, BC) – Swimming
- Malindi Elmore (Kelowna, BC) – Athletics
- Melanie McQuaid (Victoria, BC) – Triathlon
Official of the Year
- Shanda Assmus (Vancouver, BC) – Rugby
- Melanie Stewart (Port Coquitlam, BC) – Ringette
- Trevor Walmsley (Vancouver, BC) – Karate
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About Sport BC
Sport BC believes in the power of sport and is committed to building stronger communities through positive sport experiences. Our goal is to enhance and support sport participation in British Columbia ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through our KidSport BC, BC Amateur Sport Fund, and ProMOTION Plus along with our services Sport BC Insurance, and Payroll and Group Benefits; Sport BC supports our seventy plus member organizations. Keep up to date @SportBC
Media Contact
Allison Mailer
Sport BC, VP Operations
allison.mailer@sportbc.com
778-839-8576