Women's soccer sensation Christine Sinclair was named the winner of the 2012 Lou Marsh Award on Monday.
The 29-year-old Sinclair led sa国际传媒 to bronze at the London Olympics in spectacular fashion, scoring an Olympic-record six goals to win the Golden Boot. She recorded a hat trick in a 4-3 extra-time semifinal loss to the United States.
The Burnaby native had 23 goals and six assists on the year for sa国际传媒.
"I'm just in shock," Sinclair said on a conference call. "I can't believe first of all, the year I've had and the year my teammates had. And then to have this continue on, it's incredible, especially to have a female soccer player in sa国际传媒 win this award."
The honour - decided by a panel of national sports editors, reporters and broadcasters - is given annually to sa国际传媒's outstanding athlete by the Toronto Star.
Other finalists for the Marsh award were speed-skater Christine Nesbitt, trampolinist and Olympic gold medallist Rosie MacLennan, figure skater Patrick Chan, Victoria cyclist Ryder Hesjedal and Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish.
Sinclair was sa国际传媒's flag-bearer at the closing ceremonies in London. According to the Canadian Soccer Association, Sinclair contributed to 65.9 per cent of her team's scoring in 2012.
She said head coach Jon Herdman deserves plenty of credit.
"I know he brought back the passion and the love of the sport within me," she said.
