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Sophie Schmidt recognized by City of Abbotsford

National soccer team star earns 2021 Community Champion Achievement Award
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Abbotsford’s Sophie Schmidt has earned the Community Champion Achievement Award. (Submitted)

Olympic gold medallist Sophie Schmidt has been named the 2021 recipient of the Community Champion Achievement Award by the City of Abbotsford.

Schmidt won a gold medal this summer as part of the Canadian women’s soccer team at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. She also won bronze medals with the team at both the Rio 2016 and London 2012 Games.

RELATED: Abbotsford’s Sophie Schmidt wins gold medal

The W.J. Mouat product began playing soccer in Abbotsford at the age of eight with the Abbotsford Rush. She donned the colours of Canada on the international stage at the age of 17 and recently earned her 206th cap (appearance in a game a thte international level) in Tokyo last July. She is currently tied for the second-most caps in Canadian women’s soccer.

Schmidt has played professionally in Sweden, Germany and North America and most recently helped the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League win that league’s Challenge Cup event. She previously played with the New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC of the NWSL.

Back in December she signed a deal that will see her stay with the Dash through the 2022 season, with a club option for 2023.

RELATED: Abbotsford’s Sophie Schmidt re-signs with Houston Dash

Schmidt was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame on Oct. 23, 2019. She also earned an honourary degree at the University of the Fraser Valley in 2019.

“Sophie’s athletic performance and championship record are both impressive and admirable,” stated Mayor Henry Braun in a press release. “She has repeatedly made Canada and the city of Abbotsford proud, and exemplifies what it means to be a true champion.”

The CCAA is given to an Abbotsford individual, group, or organization who has achieved national or international recognition in a variety of areas, including, but not limited to: academia, sports, arts, and culture; or performed a noteworthy deed which is considered of benefit to the community.

As a recipient of the CCAA, Sophie’s name will be engraved on a paving stone that will be placed along the city-wide Discovery Trail within Abbotsford’s Community Champions pavilion. The CCAA ceremony will be hosted on Oct. 18 for invited guests.



Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
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