Sport BC hosted the 58th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on Thursday, March 5, 2026, celebrating the remarkable achievements of athletes, coaches, and teams in our province. Emceed by CBC’s Scott Russell, the event highlighted outstanding performances from the 2025 sport season, emphasizing the importance of sport in building community and inspiring future generations.
Rob Newman, President and CEO of Sport BC, reflected on the evening’s celebrations, noting, “We are proud to bring the amateur sport community together. The inspiring stories shared by all our finalists and winners serve as a reminder of the impact sports have on our communities.”
Among the numerous accolades were noteworthy awards for the cycling sport community. Cycling BC congratulates our talented athletes recognized at the event:
Junior Female Athlete of the Year: Elly Hoskin – Mountain Biking (Enduro)
Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Jackson Goldstone – Mountain Biking (Downhill)
We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ethan Wood – Mountain Biking (Cross-country), a finalist in the Junior Male Athlete of the Year category. Although Ethan did not receive the award in his category, the honour of being named a finalist is a noteworthy accomplishment and an indication that he is among the top athletes in BC.
58th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards Recipients:
I-SPARC Female Athlete of the Year: Shalaya Valenzuela – Rugby
I-SPARC Male Athlete of the Year: Fynn McCarthy – Volleyball
Female Athlete with a Disability: Elise Froese – Wheelchair Basketball
Female Coach of the Year: Hilary Stellingwerff – Cross Country
Male Coach of the Year: Carlo Basso – Soccer
Male Athlete with a Disability: Thomas Venos – Wheelchair Tennis
High School Female Athlete of the Year: Adrianna Buitelaar – Athletics
High School Male Athlete of the Year: Elijah Black
Junior Female Athlete of the Year: Elly Hoskin – Cycling – Mountain Bike
Junior Male Athlete of the Year: Praise Aniamaka – Athletics
Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Jackson Goldstone – Cycling – Mountain Bike (Downhill)
Youth Male Athlete of the Year: Lowan Le Bris – Judo
Youth Female Athlete of the Year: Lily Stroda – Athletics
Team of the Year: Duchess Park Sr Boys Volleyball
Masters Athlete of the Year: Shelly Stouffer – Golf, Nanoose Bay, BC
Official of the Year: Grace Barlow – Ice Hockey
Special awards included the Best of BC going to Vancouver Rise FC, along with the Harry Jerome Comeback Award presented to Larissa Franklin for her inspiring return to softball. The evening also celebrated exceptional contributions to women in sport with the In Her Footsteps awards, recognizing Cathy Astofooroff in snowboarding and Savanna Smith in lacrosse.
Cycling BC congratulates all the award recipients; your achievements inspire us and serve as a testament to the incredible talent within our province. Let’s continue to build together, fostering growth and excellence in sport.