Queen’s rugby and basketball star Sophie de Goede has collected another accolade—she’s been named the Lois and Doug Mitchell USport Athlete of the Year.
The event, which is in its 29th year, took place on May 25, 2022 and recognized both de Goede and Tre Ford of the Waterloo Warriors men’s football and track and field teams. The public and the Canadian Athletic Foundation Board chose de Goede over eight other nominees.
“On behalf of our entire hip, congratulations to both Tre and Sophie on being named the 2022 U SPORTS Athletes of the Year,” Dick White, interim USports CEO said in a media release. _
“We are proud of your extensive accomplishments on the field of play and in the classroom. We look forward to watching you become leaders both in the community and in the next stage of your athletic and professional careers.”
This prestigious award is certainly not de Goede’s first.
The multi-sport athlete was named OUA Female Athlete of the Year and became the PHE ’55 Alumnae Award winner as Queen’s Varsity Teams Female Athlete of the Year.
Her on-field excellence helped the Queen’s women’s rugby win gold at home, then her play on the court led the Queen’s women’s basketball team to a third-place finish. She consistently embodies the athletic and community leadership the award represents.
“This year’s group of nominees is one of our strongest yet,” Lois Mitchell, former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, said during the awards ceremony.
“The student-athletes who compete in U SPORTS develop integrity, resilience, teamwork, and the communications skills they need to excel in sport, their studies and in their careers. Congratulations to Tre and Sophie and to all the nominees who inspire us every day.”
Women’s Rugby Head Coach Dan Valley took to the Queen’s Gaels Instagram to praise de Goede.
“Sophie de Goede is a generational player and a generational person,” he said.
“Despite the accolades that Sophie has earned over her time at Queen’s, she remains the hardest working athlete on campus—always looking for ways to excel and improve, either on the pitch, on the court, or in the classroom.”
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