Upon first glance, 16-year-old, Penny Oleksiak, might seem like your average teenager. The Toronto native loves hockey, Drake, and dogs - something she shares with many kids her own age. When you learn about her swimming career, however, you'll quickly learn just how exceptional the Canadian truly is. Oleksiak made waves (pun very much intended) this past summer, after taking home four medals at the Olympics games in Rio de Janeiro. When she entered pool, she was a relative unknown to most. When she emerged, she did so as a household name, shattering previous national records that were held for decades. It was an incredible thing to witness, and now her talent and success are being celebrated with yet another prize.
Earlier today, it was announced that Penny is taking home the Lou Marsh Trophy. The award is given to the athlete deemed Canada's best of the year, with previous winners including bobsled star Kaillie Humphries, golfer Mike Weir, and hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky. Oleksiak beat out some tough competition to claim the honours, including Pittsburgh Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby, and Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse. She is also the first swimmer to win the hardware since 1992. Taking to twitter, Penny shared her excitement with fans.
The Lou Marsh Trophy is decided by a panel of sports journalists, and has been given out since 1936. To see the full list of winners, check them out via Wikipedia.
