Add one more accolade to the impressive athletic resume of Abbotsford’s Paige Norton.
Norton was named the winner of Special Olympics British Columbia’s 2017 Athletic Achievement Award last week, for her efforts both on and off the ice in the sport of speed skating.
SOBC officials called her an accomplished athlete and a great ambassador for the organization in Abbotsford, and that Norton is a great example to other athletes through her sportsmanship, commitment and healthy lifestyle.
“For Paige, sports are about more than just winning. She demonstrates that hard work and dedication pays off. An athlete who trains five days a week, including two-a-day sessions, she is determined to excel in her sport and in life,” wrote her nominators for the award.
Norton put in a great effort at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, winning a gold medal and achieving a personal best in the 1,000 metres race and claiming a silver in the 500m event. Norton also competed as a member of Team Canada at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho, where she won two gold and one bronze.
As a member of Team BC, Norton earned multiple medals in speed skating at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games and in athletics at the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. Norton has also participated in athletics and speed skating at SOBC Games, athletics and swimming at BC Games, and in regional and provincial competitions.
It’s the second time Norton has won the award, as she also earned the same honour in 2011.
Norton also participates in athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, soccer, softball, speed skating, and swimming with SOBC – Abbotsford.
The Robert Bateman Secondary grad is a strong advocate for SOBC in her community and she regularly gives speeches on how Special Olympics has enriched her life, made her more independent, and encouraged her to live a healthy lifestyle. She consistently volunteers at SOBC fundraising events and has worked to promote respect and inclusion as part of the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign in Abbotsford and viaSport British Columbia and the Government of B.C.’s #ERASEbullying initiative.
For more on the award, visit specialolympics.bc.ca.