Swimmer Nathan Stein of Maple Ridge has been nominated for a Sport B.C. Athlete of the Year Award.
Stein, 24, was nominated in the Athletes with a Disability category. After an injury plagued 2013, he has bounced back in a big way the past two years.
Stein qualified for the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games. At the Speedo Can Am Para-swimming Championships in Toronto, Stein won the S10 50-metre and 100-m freestyle, and was also second in the 100-m butterfly.
Less than a week later Stein finished third in the 50-m freestyle at the British Para-Swimming International Meet in Glasgow.
That built upon a comeback year in 2014. At the Para Pan Pacific Championships in Pasadena Stein won two medals, lowering Benoit Huot’s Canadian record in both. In the S10 100-m butterfly he took the gold and he added a silver in the 100-m freestyle.
Sport B.C. announced the outstanding amateur athletes, coaches, and officials, named as finalists in award categories to be presented at the upcoming Athlete of the Year Awards. It is one of the longest standing sport recognition events in Canada, and this year is its 50th anniversary milestone. The ceremony and Gala dinner is set for Thursday, March 10, at the Vancouver Convention Centre East.
The selection committee, chaired by Bernie Pascall, included 20 highly regarded sportswriters, broadcasters, and amateur sport leaders in B.C.
“A significant number of very strong nominations for each of the categories were received this year,” said Sport BC president Rob Newman. “The Athlete of the Year Awards provides a great opportunity to recognize these talented and deserving athletes, coaches and officials.
