Sinclair named 2012 Air Canada Athlete of the Year

Christine Sinclair has been named the inaugural winner of the Air Canada Athlete of the Year. The new award, was presented for the first time on 10 December 2012, recognises Sinclair for her exceptional season with the Canadian national team.

“Christine is a true ambassador for sport in Canada,” said Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada President and Chief Executive Officer. “Her performance, leadership and courage have come to the fore on many occasions and have been a source of pride for many Canadians, leading to an unprecedented interest in women’s soccer in this country. Her outstanding accomplishments are the inspiration for the creation of the Air Canada Athlete of the Year Award – an annual award to be voted on in the future by our customers. By recognizing leadership, excellence and inspiration among our nation’s athletes, it is our hope that Canadian youth will strive for the highest ideals of performance – a value we share as Canada’s flag carrier.”

As recipient of this award, she will receive two complimentary Executive First tickets to anywhere in the world Air Canada flies as well as year-long Super Elite membership privileges for two in Air Canada’s Altitude program.

“Christine has provided such tremendous inspiration to both teammates and fans of the game throughout her career,” said Peter Montopoli, General Secretary of the Canadian Soccer Association. “Again in 2012 she was a national soccer hero, first leading the way at the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament on her home stage in January and then helping Canada win an Olympic bronze medal on the biggest stage in August.

Beginning in the fall of 2013, Air Canada’s customers will be invited to vote for the Air Canada Athlete of the Year; details of the award program will be announced next year.

Already this year, Sinclair has also been recognized as the Yahoo! Canada Buzziest Canadian of the Year and the CBCSports.ca Canada’s Athlete of the Year. In August, she was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.