Paris Paralympic bronze medallist Shelby Newkirk and Olympic bronze medallist Rylan Wiens were named Female and Male Athlete of the Year at the 40th Annual Saskatchewan Sport Awards on Thursday night.
Additionally, six recipients were named in Excellence Awards categories, while eight individuals were honoured in either the Coach Dedication, Volunteer Dedication or Inspire Through Sport categories.
Newkirk swam to bronze at the 2024 Paralympic Games in the S6 100-metre backstroke event, later breaking a world record in the S6 50-metre backstroke, while also claiming 11 medals across international and national events.
Wiens claimed Canada’s first-ever medal in the men’s 10-metre synchronized platform event at the Olympic Games, finishing seventh in the individual event and capturing a pair of silver medals at the World Cup.
In the Youth Athlete of the Year category, two-time international gold medallist Kash Tarasoff won in the male category. At the same time, youth world record breaker Etta Love was the recipient of the female category of the award.
Love is the first woman in Canada to hold an Olympic weightlifting world record and earned various other medals at national and international events.
Tarasoff was a Saskatchewan record breaker at the Junior Elite National Championships, earning perfect 10s on three dives, while securing top of the podium.
After taking first place at the U SPORTS National Championships and setting a program record with a time of 8:45.60 seconds, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women's 4x800-metre Relay Team are the recipients of the Team of the Year Award.
Named Coach of the Year for the third time in four years, Mary Carroll led two of her athletes to the Olympic Games in Paris, with one making Canadian history in the men’s 10-metre synchronized event by claiming bronze. She was one of two Team Canada coaches at the Games and received a 2024 Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award for her work.
Dedicated volleyball coach and mentor Tony Fineblanket, rowing umpire Sheila Leach, as well as Special Olympic athlete Lindsay Markwart received the Inspire Through Sport Award.
For their valued work in canoe/kayak and figure skating, Bob Kary and Blair Seifert were recipients of Volunteer Dedication Awards.
Carla Nicholls (athletics), David Calam (lawn bowling), and Denise Fernandez (tennis) were handed Coach Dedication Awards for their 10-plus years of giving back to their sport.
Excellence Award Recipients
Athlete of the Year
Female - Shelby Newkirk, Saskatoon, Para Swimming
Male - Rylan Wiens, Pike Lake, Diving
Youth Athlete of the Year
Female - Etta Love, Saskatoon, Olympic Weightlifting
Male - Kash Tarasoff, Saskatoon, Diving
Coach of the Year
Mary Carroll, Saskatoon, Diving
Team of the Year
University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s 4x800-metre relay team, Saskatoon, Athletics
Recognition Awards Recipients
Inspire Through Sport
Tony Fineblanket, Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, Volleyball
Sheila Leach, Weyburn, Rowing
Lindsay Markwart, Regina, Special Olympics
Coach Dedication
David Calam, Regina, Lawn Bowling
Denise Fernandez, Regina, Tennis
Carla Nicholls, Regina, Athletics
Volunteer Dedication
Bob Kary, Regina, Canoe/Kayak
Blair Seifert, Saskatoon, Figure Skating
