Sport PEI Amateur Sport Awards
The Amateur Sport Awards are presented every year to recognize PEI’s finest athletes, officials,coaches, teams and administrators. The awards are held each February and recognizes the achievements of the previous calendar year.
Congratulations to Nancy Ripley, triathlete, who on Wednesday, February, 19, 2019 was named ADL Masters Athlete of the Year. Five short years ago Nancy jumped into the world of triathlon and she hasn’t looked back. She competed in a number of races in the Maritime provinces and in 2018 she completed her first ironman, Ironman Lake Placid, where she finished third in her age group with a time of 15:13:31. Nancy followed that competition up in August, 2019 completing Subaru Ironman Mont- Tremblant in a time of 15:42:22 where she qualified for the 2019 Ironman World Championships in Kailua, Kona HI, United States by placing first in her age group. Nancy was heading to Kona, the most sort after Ironman in the world. Nancy would have only 7 weeks to recover from Mont-Tremblant, train and then race Kona. That alone is a big challenge.
Nancy’s daughter, Sally got busy heading up some fund raising projects so Nancy could concentrate on her training and the path to Kona unfolded. Nancy’s children, Sally, Steven and Andrew attended the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii with their mother and were a part of a dream come true. Not only was Nancy racing at the Triathlon World Championships but her children were with her cheering her every step of the way. All triathletes and Islanders proudly followed Nancy’s race as she went on to complete Kona in 15:14:11. placing 14th out of 29 in her age group and earning enough Ironman points to make Bronze Ironman World Athlete Status. Wow, what an outstanding accomplishment for Nancy, for women in sport and triathlon.
Hard work and dedication pays off for those who are willing to put the time and effort into it and Nancy is no stranger to hard work. Congratulations Nancy, you are an inspiration to all. All the best in your future endeavors!
