Advertisement

Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame inducts its class of 2019

Click to play video: 'Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame 2019'
Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame 2019
The Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2019 – Nov 21, 2019

It was breakfast with champions on Thursday morning, as the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame inducted its class of 2019.

Six new passes were handed out at the hall’s 12th annual induction ceremony, including one to an Olympic gold medallist.

Making up the six were four athletes and two builders.

The six are:

  • Roger Lafontaine, for his work with the Okanagan Track Club
  • Daphne Richard, for endurance equestrian work
  • Duncan McNaughton, posthumously, high jumper
  • Tania Jones, marathon runner
  • Robyn Buna, basketball
  • Kelsey Serwa, skiing

Richard thanked her dearly departed horse, Teddy, stating “he has been long gone, but he was the greatest horse and he changed everything for me.”

Story continues below advertisement

Buna is a three-time national university champion. In 2009-10, she was named the CIS championship tournament MVP.

“For me, sport really directed me and what I ended up doing with my life,” said Buna.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“And all the qualities that you learn as a player and a team, I think you can use in the rest of your life.”

Click to play video: 'Okanagan fans celebrate Serwa Olympic gold medal win'
Okanagan fans celebrate Serwa Olympic gold medal win

The biggest name to enter the hall was Serwa, Kelowna’s favourite female skier, who was caught off guard by the monumental moment.

“I wasn’t really expecting to be this emotional,” said Serwa.

Her ski-cross career included 18 World Cup podium finishes, 8 World Cup victories and two Olympic medals, including gold in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018. At the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Serwa won silver.

Story continues below advertisement

“This award signifies the parents, the teachers, the councilors, the coaches who helped me get to where I am today,” said Serwa.

Click to play video: 'Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame inductees announced'
Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame inductees announced

Having retired from competitive skiing, what’s next for Serwa?

With other Olympians having parlayed performance into public service, is politics a possibility?

Serwa gave an answer that only a politician would give, stating “I’m not saying yes, but I’m not saying no.”

Click to play video: '2016 Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame inductees'
2016 Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame inductees

Sponsored content

AdChoices