Sport BC has announced 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, 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.
– Melanie McQuaid Named as Master Athlete of the Year Finalist –
“What Mel has accomplished over her lifetime is nothing short of spectacular,” said Allan Prazsky, Triathlon BC Executive Director. “Her illustrious career includes three Xterra World Championship titles, two World Triathlon Off-Road titles, and who can forget her 2023 season; 2nd overall at Ironman Maryland, 3rd at Ironman Coeur D’Alene, where she became the oldest professional triathlete, male or female, to podium, overall, at an Ironman event, and in doing so, going on to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Kona. Mel’s grit and determination serves a roll model for athletes everywhere.”
“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.”
