North Vancouver's Filip Peliwo already proved himself the best junior tennis player in the world this year and now he can add best junior athlete in Canada to his resume.
Peliwo was named the Junior Athlete of the Year at the 40th Canadian Sport Awards this week, edging out fellow nominees Alexandra Pretorius, a ski jumper, and wrestler Dorothy Yeats. The announcement was made Wednesday at a reception held at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary.
"This is such a great honour to be considered Canada's top junior athlete of the year," Peliwo said in a release. "Thank you to the Canadian Sport Awards and True Sport Foundation. This award caps an unbelievable season and pushes me even more to improve as I move to the professional circuit."
In 2012 Peliwo put together one of the most dominant junior tennis seasons in history. He became the first player since 1984 to reach the final of all four junior Grand Slams, finishing runner up at the Australian and French Opens before winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. With those results already in the bag he will end 2012 as the No. 1-ranked junior in the world.
"What Filip did this year was unprecedented in Canadian tennis, and all of his success was the product of a lot of hard work and dedication," said Michael S. Downey, president and CEO of Tennis Canada. "Tennis in Canada is stronger today because of this great young player, and we are so happy he is being recognized for his tremendous achievements, as he truly deserves it."
Other 2012 Canadian Sport Award winners included Olympic silver medal-winning kayaker Adam van Koeverden as Male Athlete of the Year, trampoline gold medalist Rosannagh MacLennan for Female Athlete of the Year, the bronze medal-winning women's soccer squad for Team of the Year and the silver medal-winning men's eight team in rowing as Partners of the Year.
