| Aquatic Federation of Canada awards recipients announced |
Aquatic Federation of Canada awards recipients announcedOttawa, ON (November 5, 2009) - The Aquatic Federation of Canada (AFC) announced it’s awards recipient for 2008-09 season during it’s Annual General Meeting today. The AFC awards recognizes athletes and coaches’ high performance achievements, as well as volunteers, administrators and media representatives who have greatly contributed to the four Aquatic Sports, Swimming, Diving, Synchronize Swimming and Water polo. "In a year of exceptional successes achieved by each of the 4 aquatic sports, as evidenced by the number of podium finishes and World Championship medals this year, these athletes and coaches were the shining stars,” said Bill Hogan, President of the Aquatic Federation of Canada. “Joint congratulations from the sports of Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Synchronized Swimming go out to each of them.” Ryan Cochrane of Victoria BC was awarded the Male Athlete of the Year for his performances at the FINA World Aquatic Championships in Rome last summer. Cochrane, who was also the recipient of this award last year after a bronze medal finish in Beijing, won a bronze medal in the 800 freestyle and silver in the 1500 freestyle in Rome. Cochrane is coached by Randy Bennett at the Victoria Academy of Swimming. The Female Athlete of the Year award was presented to Water polo team captain Krystina Alogbo of Montreal. Alogbo’s leadership skill sets played a key part in the Team’s silver medal performance at the Worlds and the Silver medal at the World Super League Finals in Russia. The Canadian synchronized swimming team collected the Team of the Year Award for their Bronze medal performance in the Combo Free, winning Synchro Canada’s second medal of the World championships. The team consisted of Marie-Pier Boudreau Gagnon, Camille Bowness, Jo-Annie Fortin, Sandy Gill, Chloe Isaac, Eve Lamoureux, Stephanie Leclair, Tracy Little, Elise Marcotte, Karine Thomas, Erin Willson and Valerie Welsh and was led by Denise and Julie Sauvé. The Coach of the Year Award was presented to Pat Oaten, head coach of the Women’s Water polo team. “To our special volunteers, winners of the President's Honour Roll and the Volunteer of the Year award, we at AFC are so proud to recognize them for their invaluable contributions to aquatics in Canada,” added Hogan Other special awards were presented to Jean Chartrand from CKAC Montreal for supporting and promoting Synchronized Swimming at all national championships and World Trials (Media Award), Vaughan Baird (Volunteer of the Year) for his spirit of dedication, commitment, and continued support for the Aquatic Hall of Fame & Museum of Canada and Margie Schuett (President’s Honour Roll) for her exceptional leadership and dedication as Team Canada’s Chef de Mission in organizing the support team for AFC at the 2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships in Rome. The AFC is the voice for the Olympic aquatic sports, both domestically and internationally, and the vehicle for cooperative initiatives in order to improve its member sports’ development and results.
More information: |
