Special Olympics figure skater Michael Sumner, who also goes by Mike, won three big Yukon sports awards, got some big cheers from the crowd when his name got called to receive them, and gave two big thumbs up for a photo after speaking with the News about winning them.
That was during the sports awards presented by the Yukon government, Sport Yukon, the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle and Special Olympics Yukon at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on the evening of Feb. 12.
Sumner, 27, has been figure skating since 2007.
He keeps fit by playing soccer, powerlifting and working five days a week in the lumber yard at Home Hardware.
Sumner was honoured with the Premier’s Award of Sport Excellence and the Minister’s Award of Sport Recognition. He was also named one of two athletes of the year by Special Olympics Yukon.
“I’m feeling awesome,” he said.
Sumner told the News he was awarded for his “gold medal and stellar performance” at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
“It felt the world to me. I just felt like on my game. It was the best skate I’ve ever skated in my program up to date,” he said.
“I had all the crowd up on their feet and cheering on the Yukon.”
His coaches and fellow athletes have been cheering for Sumner all along the way.
Currently, his coach Tanya Sage is helping him prepare to head to the Special Olympics Canada 2024 Winter Games, starting Feb. 27 in Calgary, where Sumner is hoping to achieve his personal best and bring home another gold, he said, noting that would be the “icing on the cake.”
A Yukon government press release issued the morning after the awards ceremony summed up all the accomplishments celebrated that evening.
Twenty-three athletes and four teams were awarded the premier’s award for their international or national achievements.
The minister’s award went to 62 athletes and three teams that excelled at either the Arctic Winter Games, Canada 55+ Games, provincials, Western Canadians or national and international competitions.
Two coaches were recognized by the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle for their commitment to the North American Indigenous Games and Arctic sports teams.
Swimming coach Shereen Hill of Nacho Nyak Dun First Nation started coaching in 1988 and has been involved with the North American Indigenous Games since 2003.
Arctic sports coach Ross King of Tahltan First Nation began coaching in 2015.
In addition to Sumner, Kenny Atlin won an athlete of the year award from Special Olympics Yukon while Alanna Dene and Cheyenne Sparvier were given the most improved athletes awards and Brandle Bruneau got the rising star award.
Sport Yukon handed out the annual administrator award to Mary Binsted and the coach award to Bobby Woodman.
Dahria Beatty was named international female athlete of the year while Sasha Masson won the award for the males.
The national or territorial female athlete of the year award went to Mara Roldan while Gavin McKenna took the title for the males.
The team of the year award was given to the Team Yukon U16 male hockey team, led by McKenna who broke the Canada Winter Games points record in Prince Edward Island last February.
A backgrounder listing all of the athletes, teams and coaches and their respective awards is available in the government press release.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com