Canadian swimmer Kelsey Wog was named the Female Athlete of the Year for the 2019-20 season by U SPORTS, the Canadian equivalent of the NCAA.
Wog, who swims for the University of Manitoba, was presented the award at the 2020 Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards Presented by Makadiff Sports via a remote video presentation Thursday evening. The men’s award was won by University of Montreal soccer player Aboubacar Sissoko.
Wog had an outstanding meet at the U SPORTS Championships in February, the fourth-year swimmer winning four events: The 50-, 100- and 200-meter breaststroke and 200 individual medley. She set U SPORTS records in the latter two events.
She’s the first swimmer to win the award since Kylie Masse in 2016 and the first Manitoba Bison to win the award since 1997 (Terri-Lee Johannesson, basketball).
“Kelsey’s success comes from simple approach to improvement,” Manitoba coach Vlastik Cerny said. “She sets goals, works hard to improve every day and competes. When she reaches her goal, she sets a new one and repeats the process again. But one of her biggest strengths as a competitor is her resilience in times of struggle. She looks at stumbles as opportunities to improve which ultimately make her a champion.”
Wog was chosen from among four female nominees. She and Sissoko receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship to a Canadian Institution. The awards, presented since 1993, were selected by vote of the Canadian Athletic Foundation, which accounted for 75 percent of the tally, and a public vote accounting for a quarter of the results.
“On behalf of our entire membership, congratulations to both Aboubacar Sissoko and Kelsey Wog on being named the 2020 U SPORTS Athletes of the Year,” said U SPORTS interim CEO Dick White. “We are proud of your extensive accomplishments on the soccer pitch, in the swimming pool, and in the classroom and look forward to watching you become leaders both in the community and in the next stage of your athletic careers.”