Rio phenom Oleksiak wins Marsh award

You could excuse Penny Oleksiak for being a little distracted during her high school law class on Tuesday.

After winning four Olympic medals last summer in Rio de Janeiro, she knew she was in the mix for the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year. Oleksiak’s teacher let her check her phone during class and the 16-year-old swimmer eventually got the news she was looking for.

Oleksiak was named the winner of the Toronto Star award, selected annually by a panel of sports journalists from across the country.

“It was pretty exciting when I found out,” Oleksiak said on a conference call. “One of my teachers, Mr. McAlpine, is across the hallway. He was, like, freaking out after class when he found out. So that was fun.”

It was the latest accomplishment in what has been a dream year for the Toronto swimmer. Oleksiak, who won Olympic gold in the 100-metre freestyle, served as Canadian flag-bearer at the closing ceremony at Maracana Stadium. She added four more medals at the short-course world championship last week in Windsor, Ont.

“I think I really learned that I’m stronger than I think,” Oleksiak said of her season. “I want to say that just because going into Rio, I definitely had my doubts about myself. I didn’t think I’d be able to even get into finals.”

Oleksiak edged Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby for the honour. Other finalists were sprinter Andre De Grasse, golfer Brooke Henderson, Paralympic swimmer Aurelie Rivard, tennis player Milos Raonic and high jumper Derek Drouin.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price took the honour last year. Oleksiak is the first swimmer to win the trophy since Mark Tewksbury in 1992.