Manitoba's Wog captures 2020 Lieutenant Governor Athletic Award Presented by Makadiff SPORTS
 
June 25, 2020
 
TORONTO / CALGARY – Kelsey Wog from the Manitoba Bisons women's swimming squad was named the winner of the 2020 Lieutenant Governor Athletic Awards Presented by Makadiff SPORTS, as U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year for the 2019-20 season.

"These awards recognize the essential role that university sports play in shaping Canada's future leaders," said Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell. "Young people who compete at this elite level develop the integrity, resilience, teamwork and communication skills they need to excel no matter what challenges come their way, and to inspire others to do the same." 
Formerly known as the Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) and Howard Mackie Awards, the event is celebrating its 28^th year and has been a staple celebration in the national sport community since 1993, recognizing Canada's top athletes competing in university athletics within U SPORTS.
The winners were selected by a combined vote of the Canadian Athletic Foundation (75 per cent), a not-for-profit board chaired by His Honour Doug Mitchell and the public (25 per cent) on USPORTS.ca.
 
"It was no easy task to choose this year's winners from such a strong group of nominees," said Doug Mitchell. "I would like to thank the trustees of the Canadian Athletic Foundation for their service and outstanding commitment to helping support the athletes develop to their fullest potential." 
 
"On behalf of our entire membership, congratulations to Kelsey on being named the 2020 U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year," said U SPORTS interim CEO Dick White. "We are proud  of your extensive accomplishments in the swimming pool and in the classroom and look forward to watching you become a leader both in the community and in the next stage of your athletic career.
 
"I would also like to thank our partners, Their Honours Doug and Lois Mitchell, for continuing to celebrate our talented student-athletes for nearly three decades. It is a privilege to collaborate with you year after year to recognize excellence in Canadian university athletics."
 
For a full list of all-time award winners and nominees click here.
 
U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year: Kelsey Wog, Manitoba
 
Swimming, Breastroke Specialist
Winnipeg, Man.
4^th Year
Agricultural & Food Sciences
 
By the time Kelsey Wog's record-setting career at the University of Manitoba is complete, the hometown product's athletic résumé will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest in school history.
 
The fourth-year women's swimmer continued to shine in the pool this season, winning four national gold medals (50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke & 200m individual medley), with her 200m breaststroke and 200m IM golds coming in U SPORTS record fashion. Wog's 2:22.42 in the 200m breast is the fastest time in the world in 2020, while her 100m breaststroke time of 1:06.44 was among the fastest in the last calendar year.  
 
Thanks to her stellar national championship, Wog was named the U SPORTS Female Swimmer of the Year, following four-time winner, former world record holder and 2016 Canadian Olympian Kylie Masse – who captured the Lieutenant Governor Athletic Award two months before competing in Rio.
 
"Kelsey's success comes from simple approach to improvement," said Bisons head coach Vlastik Cerny. "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."
 
Speaking of the Olympics, those are a likely next step for Wog, who had her sights squarely set on the Canadian Olympic Trials prior to their cancellation due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Heading into 2021, her sights remain set on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, which are now scheduled for July of next year.
 
Internationally, Wog won a silver medal in the 200m breastroke at the 2016 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) held in Windsor, Ont. She has also represented Canada at the 2019 FINA World Championships, the 2018 Pan Pacific and 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, and the 2017 FISU Summer Universiade. 
 
Prior to dominating at the U SPORTS Championships, Wog earned four gold medals (50m, 100m & 200m breastroke,100m freestyle, and a relay bronze (4x100m medley) at the CW Championships in November of last year, with two of her golds coming in CW record times.
 
In addition, Wog competed last fall for the Cali Condors in the inaugural season of the International Swimming League (ISL), a new professional circuit featuring over 100 Olympians spread across eight teams. Wog touched the wall in second in the 200m breastroke (2:18.06) at the ISL Grande Finale in Las Vegas, helping the Condors claim second overall.
 
Wog is set to compete for the new Toronto Titans franchise in the next ISL season, after signing with the expansion club this spring.
 
She is the second Bison to be named U SPORTS Athlete of the Year, and first since basketball star Terri-Lee Johannesson in 1997.
 
Nominees
 
CW: Kelsey Wog, swimming, Manitoba (Winner)
OUA: Lucia Stafford, cross country / track and field, Toronto
RSEQ: Fabiola Forteza, rugby, Laval
AUS: Jenna Mae Ellsworth, basketball, UPEI
 
For more information please contact Lisa Tinley, Associate Director Bison Sports, (C) 204-509-4849 (E) lisa.tinley@umanitoba.ca