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Alpine ski racer John Kucera receives athlete of the year honour

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 00:25

CALGARY, AB (February 3, 2010) - Reigning world downhill champion John Kucera (Calgary, AB) has been selected as Calgary's Male Athlete of the Year for 2010. Kucera, the first Canadian male skier ever to win the downhill at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, was honoured yesterday at a Calgary Booster Club event.

"I want to thank my sponsors, my family and friends for their support last season and throughout my career," said Kucera in accepting the Scott-Mamini Memorial Award. "There are a lot of people who made huge sacrifices for me to be a world champion, and I could not have done it without them. I also want to thank my sponsors because their support is a critical part of the success of any amateur athlete, particularly an alpine ski racer."

Kucera had won of the best season's of any Canadian male ski racer in history, winning the DH at the 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Val d'Isère, FRA last February. Along with last season's unforgettable DH win in Val d'Isère, FRA, Kucera picked up the third World Cup podium of his career, finishing second in the super-G at Lake Louise and won his eighth career GMC Canadian championship title.

The Scott-Mamini Award was initiated by the Calgary Press-Radio-TV Sports Club in 1958 and has been presented annually ever since to the city's Athlete of the Year as chosen by media. Previous winners include hockey player Jarome Iginla, golfer Stephen Ames gymnast Kyle Shewfelt and last year's honouree, football player Henry Burris.

Downhill champion Ken Read won in 1979 and 1980.

Kucera is the 53rd athlete to be selected for the Scott-Mamini Memorial Award. Skeleton slider Mellisa Hollingsworh, winner of the Female Athlete of the Year Award, was also honoured yesterday.

Olympic gold medalist Karen Lee Gartner was selected Female Athlete of the Year in in 1992 and 1993.

Kucera's 2009-2010 season was cut short after breaking his left leg during the Bombardier Lake Louise Winterstart super-G in November. He will not be competing in the Olympic Winter Games in February as he continues to rehabilitate the injury.

The Calgary Booster Club, which has been contributing to amateur sport for the last 50 years, will honour Kucera and Hollingsworth at their 56th annual Sportsman dinner on March 16th, 2010 as they continue their proud tradition if involvement with athletes in Calgary.

For more information please go to: www.calgaryboosterclub.com

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Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) is the governing body for alpine ski racing in Canada with more than 50,000 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteer members and over 200,000 supporting members. ACA manages the high performance programs for the athletes of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team who represent Canada throughout the world. For more information on Alpine Canada Alpin, visit www.canski.org.

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