Athletes from White Rock and Surrey 鈥� many of whom competed in Paris last year 鈥� are among the finalists for Sport BC's Athlete of the Year awards.
Celebrating its 57th annual awards event this year, the Sport BC ceremony takes place March 6 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Hosted by CBC鈥檚 Scott Russell, the awards ceremony recognizes the province鈥檚 best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, teams, and officials for outstanding performances in their sport in the 2024 season.
Among the finalists are Surrey's Sebastian Massabie, a Paralympian swimmer who broke records and last year, as well as White Rock-raised sitting volleyball athlete Danielle Ellis, who won a bronze medal with her team in Paris last September. Both are nominated in their respective Athlete with a Disability category.
In the Senior Male Athlete of the Year Category, Surrey's Amar Dhesi, who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics and placed ninth in the men's 125KG freestyle competition, is a finalist.
"I feel really honoured and proud to be nominated for this award," Massabie said via email, adding he was also proud to compete in Paris "because I got to represent my country at the highest level of sport."
His coach, Pacific Sea Wolves' Jy Lawrence, said it's a huge achievement Massabie deserves, praising his ability to handle pressure and rise to the occasion.
"He works so hard for every little step of progress he makes, and it鈥檚 exciting to see him starting to be recognized for those pieces of success!" she said.
Three other athletes from Surrey were also nominated: Talia Phangura from North Surrey Secondary for High School Female Athlete of the year (athletics), Lowan Le Bris (judo) for Junior Male Athlete of the Year, and gymnast Shallon Olsen for Senior Female Athlete of the Year.
鈥淭he Athlete of the Year Awards is a true celebration of sport in our province. The finalists ... will be honoured at the event and represent exceptional efforts and accomplishments in 2024. We congratulate our finalists and the organizations they represent," said Sport BC president and CEO Rob Newman in a release. 鈥淲e look forward to celebrating as a sector together."
Finalists represent 29 sports from communities throughout the province, he added.
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.
