Christine Sinclair Win’s 2012 Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy

Christine Sinclair has been named winner of the 2012 Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy, an honour awarded annually to the Canadian athlete of the year.

This award is chosen by a panel of sports journalists from across the country. Sinclair wins the award following her best season in women’s soccer that included 23 goals (national record), a CONCACAF silver medal in Vancouver, an Olympic tournament-record six goals (including a legendary hat trick) against the USA and an unforgettable Bronze Medal closing out the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

Sinclair is the 21st female athlete to win the award, albeit the first from a team sport (summer or winter) to do so.

The Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy has been awarded annually since 1936, with Sinclair also the first soccer player to win the award.

The trophy is named in honour of former athlete and official Lou Marsh, who also spent 43 years as a writer for The Toronto Star.

“The Canadian Soccer Association would like to congratulate Christine Sinclair on winning the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy,” said Peter Montopoli, General Secretary of the Canadian Soccer Association.

“Sinclair set a national record with 23 goals in 22 matches in 2012, seven more than her previous record in 2007. With those 23 goals plus six assists, she was directly involved in nearly 66% of Canada’s 44 goals.

She earned Player of the Match honours five times, including the night she scored a memorable hat trick night at Old Trafford in Manchester at the London 2012 Olympics. She won Canada Soccer Player of the Month honours in May and August.

Her six goals at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament set a tournament record, surpassing the previous record of five scored by Christine(2004, 2008) and Birgit Prinz (2004).

Canada’s bronze-medal victory at London 2012 marked the first Canadian Medal in a summer team sport since Berlin 1936.

In August, she was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
PHOTO TAKEN BY LAIRD ALLAN OF SPORTSWAVE!!