Ottawa Sports Award – 2011

I was very honoured to win the Ottawa Sports Award for Taekwon-Do.  I don’t know who nominated me but I wish I did so I could thank them.  This was the 59th annual dinner banquet and there were over 400 guests for the delicious sit-down dinner.  The athletes that won have all competed successfully at the Provincial, National or International level.  The calibre of individual athletes, coaches and teams were really impressive. The whole evening was televised by Rogers TV and will be aired next week.  The two M.C.’s did such a great job at keeping the night moving and they were funny so it also kept the night light and playful.

The awards started with some very important people like Carolyn Waldo for her Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Media.

 I was so happy to see her again.  She interviewed me for Athlete of the Week two years and we have kept in touch.  She is so amazing at making people feel comfortable in an interview.  Her mom was so excited for her award too 🙂 I thought it was funny how she had just won this huge lifetime award but  she said she was so happy and excited to see everyone else win their awards since she interviewed mos tof the athletes in the room at some point or another in her career.  She felt that they were all her kids.  Very classy!

Jason Dunkerley won for Paralympics – It’s amazing to watch him run so fast with his guide beside him.  The must have such a strong bond.

Yves Sikubwabo won for Cross Country.  I watched him dominate at OFSAA last spring and it was great to hear everyone chant out his name as he ran.

It was nice to see some of the athletes  that I see all the time at the track.  I was surprised now many familiar faces there were in the crowd.

There was a slide show of pictures for the Individual Athletes who won awards and they wrote really nice bio’s on everyone and put them in a booklet.  It was really interesting reading everybody’s story. The athletes got to sign the booklets and it’s going to be at the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.  That part was REALLY cool!

I was given my award by Barkley Frost who is on the Board of Directors of the Organizing Committee – I keep meeting up with Mr. Frost at different sporting events and award ceremonies.  As I was going on to the stage he tried to demonstrate a kick which was cute but there was no way I was going to do one in my high heels and skirt 🙂Doug Scorarr is the Chair on the Organizing Committee and  he’s a good friend of my Javelin coach so it was nice to meet him.

I had the chance to talk to Ottawa Mayor Watson again which was also nice.  It’s great that Politicians are always there at this kind of event.

The Ottawa Fury Soccer Club and Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club tied for Amateur Sport Club of the year.  These are my other two favourite sports.   I’ve been training with the Lion’s Club since the Fall and they are definitely a great group of people with amazing coaches.  I can’t wait to see what happens at the upcoming track meets this Spring.  Maybe my soccer club (OSU Soccer Club) will win next year as well.

I  share this amazing award with my Taekwon-Do coach Mr. Steven LeGrow since it was all his coaching that helped me win in New Zealand.  I also share it with my family. I could never have done any of this without the amazing support of my parents and brother Greg. It was definitely a team effort.  I love you all so much!!

 Great night!!!!!

Posted in the Ottawa Citizen