Alisha Windsor is the recipient of the Special Olympics Award of Excellence for 2022.
This award recognizes a Special Olympics athlete who has excelled locally, provincially or nationally and possesses qualities consistent with the Special Olympics mandate “Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt”. Alisha certainly exemplifies the definition of this award.
Alisha is a multi-sport athlete who has had an outstanding couple of years with many notable achievements in summer and winter sports. She has been participating in Special Olympics for 8 years and is a multi-talented athlete who strives to be the best she can be in whichever sport she is playing. Alisha participates in baseball, soccer, golf, bocce, basketball, floor hockey and track and field. However, the sport in which she truly shines is alpine skiing.
In 2017 Alisha competed at regionals in Collingwood in the slalom, giant slalom and super G events where she finished in top spot with gold medals in all three events. This qualified her for the provincial games in 2018 where she again won gold in all three events. Alisha was named to Team Ontario for the 2020 National Winter Games in Thunder Bay where she received gold in Super G and Giant Slalom, and a silver in Slalom.
After nationals, Alisha was named to Team Canada for the World Winter Games in Kazan, Russia in 2021. She was the only athlete from our region to qualify for worlds and it would be the first time North Bay has sent an athlete to the world games since early 1990.
Alisha began training in earnest with the North Bay Antoine Ski Racers 4 times per week and with her Special Olympics coach once per week. However, things did not turn out the way they were supposed to as the pandemic pushed the games to 2022. Alisha continued with dryland training at home and with a trainer during lockdowns and on the hill when it was allowed. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine put an end to the world games in Russia, which were then cancelled entirely.
Although disappointed by these events Alisha has maintained a positive attitude and has set her sights on the next qualification cycle which began in February 2023 where she placed in the silver and bronze medal positions at provincials in Collingwood.
Alisha met her boyfriend of 8 years through Special Olympics.
“Being with people and being social is the best part of Special Olympics” but she also loves participating in sports in a fun and inclusive environment without any judgement," she said.
"Alisha is a hardworking, successful and positive athlete who is truly deserving of this award," the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame release stated.
Alisha will be presented with her award at the 42nd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner to be held at the Davedi Club on Saturday, May 6th, 2023
