A confident, courageous, and talented individual, Special Olympics BC – Abbotsford’s Paige Norton is an accomplished athlete and a great ambassador for SOBC in her community. Through her commitment to trying her best, showing good sportsmanship, and living a healthy lifestyle, she is a great example to other athletes in her Local, and the winner of SOBC’s 2017 Athletic Achievement Award.
“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,” her nominators wrote.
A skilled speed skater, 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 1000m race and claiming a silver medal in the 500m event. Norton also competed as a member of Team Canada at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, where she won two gold medals and one bronze medal.
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 with pride in athletics and speed skating at SOBC Games, athletics and swimming at BC Games, and in regional and provincial competitions through her generic speed skating club.
A strong performer in all her sports, Norton currently takes part in athletics, basketball, bocce, Club Fit, golf, soccer, softball, speed skating, and swimming with SOBC – Abbotsford.
Norton 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.
Congratulations, Paige, on your impressive achievements and your great work on behalf of SOBC!
Special Olympics BC sincerely congratulates all of the other nominees for the 2017 Athletic Achievement Award:
- John Chen, SOBC – Vancouver
- Terry Daniels, SOBC – Comox Valley
- Cory Duhaime, SOBC – Delta
- Krista Meikle, SOBC – Victoria
- Glenda Melnychuk, SOBC – Quesnel
- Jonathan Robins, SOBC – Kimberley/Cranbrook
- Tony Wilkinson, SOBC – Kelowna