Swimmer Penny Oleksiak wins Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete
TORONTO — 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, 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.”