Winkler Wizzard Special Olympics Athlete Colleen Mourant says, "It feels amazing, but definitely unexpected and overwhelming," to be one of two athletes with Special Olympics Manitoba (SOM) to be named Athlete of the Year for 2022-23.
She added, "I always bring a good positive attitude and try my best for all events and apparently I did a good job this past year to win this award."
She has been in the SOM program for over10 years.
When asked about those who helped her get to where she is in the five sports she participates in throughout the year, she talked about her coaches.
"Well, there's Chris Sumner, he's my head coach of the Valley Rollers Bowling Team, and Michelle Goertzen, and Sabrina Klassen. Mitch does snowshoeing, track & field and bowling, and Sabrina Klassen mostly just does snowshoeing."
Mourant participates in Bocce.
She described why she likes to be involved in so many sports and why she likes them all, with Track & Field coming out a bit ahead as her favourite one.
"I like staying in shape with Special Olympics Manitoba and just getting out of the community with these types of events.
Mourant said running is a big part of her training as well as going to all the practices.
Marketing Manager for SOM Melissa Suggitt explained why, in a year with the most received nominations for the awards, Mourant was chosen by the selection committee for this award.
"She is so dedicated to her sports, but it's more than that, she's dedicated to her teammates, to her coaches. If she misses a practice, she actually asks the coach if she can make it up elsewhere because she doesn't want to let anyone down. She's a leader on her team in all of her sports, and she has a goal in mind of trying to make it onto the national team, so, hard work and perseverance, and just the most friendliest of natures. She's just such a kind person, and it's not a surprise she was nominated to represent Athlete of the Year."
Back in Spring, SOM put out a call for nominations for a variety of categories Athlete of the Year (2), Coach of the Year (2), Volunteer of the Year (2), Fundraiser of the Year, Dr Frank Hayden Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award, Athlete Community Excellence, Rising Star Coach of the Year, Rob Plunkett LETR (2) - which was awarded to Morden's Sargeant Scott Edwards, and Team of the Year. Suggitt said they received more nominations this year than in any other year before.
Mourant recognized she didn't do this alone, not expecting to receive this recognition.
"It's all included with teammates. You do your best of what you can and hope for the best for everybody."
Suggitt said Mourant exemplifies everything this award is all about with the spirit of hard work, dedication and inclusion.
"Colleen represents everything that makes us proud of our athletes. It's more than sport. It's about her sense of community as well, and that's what we're looking for. We're looking for inclusion in all and it's her good nature. She's such a great ambassador for our programming and for our organization."
Mourant's name will move forward for the Special Olympics Canada Athlete of the Year Award to be named in the fall. All SOM award winners will move forward as well.