With the calendar just having turned to 2023, Aquatics Canada Aquatiques (ACA) has recognised the outstanding achievements and contributions of its athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, staff, organisations and partners during 2022.
Here’s who is walking away with Canada’s top aquatics annual awards:
Male Athlete of the Year – Joshua Liendo (Swimming)
Joshua Liendo won three medals at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, including a silver medal in the 4x100-m mixed freestyle relay, and two bronze medals in the 100-m freestyle and the 100-m butterfly. Liendo’s individual medals are the first won by a male since the 16th FINA World Championships held in Kazan, Russia.
Female Athlete of the Year – Summer McIntosh (Swimming)
Summer McIntosh won four medals at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, including a gold medal in the 200-m butterfly, a gold medal in the 400-m individual medley, a silver medal in the 400-m freestyle and a bronze medal in the 4x20-m freestyle relay. Summer’s medals in the 200-m butterfly, 400-m individual medley and her leadoff time in the 4x200-m freestyle relay were all World Junior Records.
Team of the Year – Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray (Diving)
At the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray won a bronze medal in the Men’s 10-m Synchro event. This was Canada’s first ever World Championships medal in the event. They also achieved Canada’s highest international point-total ever in the same event. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom, they earned a silver medal in the same event.
Coach of the Year – Ryan Mallette (Swimming)
Ryan Mallette coached several medal-winning swimmers at the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, including Summer McIntosh who won four medals, setting three World Junior Records, Kylie Masse who won a gold in the 50-m backstroke and a silver in the 100-m backstroke, and Joshua Liendo who won two individual medals. Ryan was also the coach for relay swimmers who won: silver in the Women’s 4x100-m freestyle relay (Kayla Sanchez, Maggie Mac Neil and Penny Oleksiak); silver in the 4x100-m mixed freestyle relay (Joshua Lindo, Javier Acevedo, Kayla Sanchez, Penny Oleksiak and Maggie Mac Neil (who swam in the prelims));. bronze in the 4x100-m medley relay (Kylie Masse, Maggie Mac Neil, Penny Oleksiak and Kayla Sanchez (who swam in prelims)); and bronze in the 4x200-m freestyle relay, (Summer McIntosh, Kayla Sanchez and Penny Oleksiak).
Hall of Fame Nominee – Kathy Seaman (Diving)
With 50 years of experience on the national and international diving scene, Kathy has an unparalleled history of service and commitment to aquatic sports. A 1972 Olympian, Kathy has dedicated much of her life to diving. She has held countless leadership positions in Canadian diving, including president, and member of the board of directors for many years. She has been a member of the FINA Technical Diving Committee (TDC) since 1996 and served two terms as chair and two terms as secretary of the FINA TDC. She has also brought her expertise to UANA (now PanAm Aquatics), serving in many positions, including the Technical Diving Committee as well as the Executive Committee. Kathy has also served as a judge/referee at three Olympics Games, three world championships, three Commonwealth Games and two Pan American Games.
More about Aquatics Canada Aquatiques
The ACA oversees and supports Canadian teams competing at all World Aquatics-accredited competitions and championships. The ACA also work to advocate and represent the growth, promotion and awareness of, and to encourage the support for, aquatic sports in Canada with all levels of government, national sport federations, funding partners and our community partners.