January 29, 2026

Two-time Special Olympics World Winter Games gold medallist Taylor Barth and NCAA Track and Field Championships record breaker Savannah Sutherland were named Male and Female Athlete of the Year at the 41st Annual Saskatchewan Sport Awards.

In front of 250 individuals from across Saskatchewan’s sporting community, the two were announced as recipients for the awards on Jan. 29 at Queensbury Convention Centre in Regina. At the event, six recipients were named in Excellence Awards categories, while nine devoted individuals were honoured in either the Coach Dedication, Volunteer Dedication or Inspire Through Sport categories.

While representing Canada at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, Barth reached top of the podium in the M08 intermediate giant slalom and the M06 intermediate slalom race, in addition to finishing fourth in the M01 intermediate super G event. Sutherland broke four records, including a Canadian national one, in the women’s 400-metre hurdle event at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. It was the ninth-fastest time ever ran in the event.

In the Youth Athlete of the Year categories, World Para Swimming Championships gold medallist Ali Diehl won in the female category, while three-time international bronze medallist Kash Tarasoff won in the male category of the award. As the youngest member of Team Canada at the World Para Swimming Championships, Deihl secured fourth place in the women’s SB9 100-metre breaststroke event, while setting a personal best in the process. In honour of her performance, Diehl was named Swimming Canada’s Breakout Swimmer of the Year in the Paralympic Program. Tarasoff was named to the senior national team while still a junior diver and accumulated three international bronze medals as one of the most junior divers to compete at across the senior level events.

After going undefeated at the Senior Men’s World Curling Championships to claim the title, Team Bryden is named the recipients of the Team of the Year Award. The championship title extended Canada’s dominant history in the event, marking another gold in a tradition of success at the championship.

Named Coach of the Year for the fourth time in five years, Mary Carroll guided numerous diving athletes across senior and junior levels to claim medals at various events, with many finishing top of the podium.

The event also honoured Recognition Awards recipients, including Melissa Lock (Handball), Mark Lord (Soccer), David Wassill (Adaptive waterski) and Harvey Weber (Athletics), who were handed Coach Dedication Awards for their tireless committed to bettering sport in Saskatchewan.

A replay of the event can be found on YouTube.