Celebrating a Legacy of Sport Excellence in
Waterloo Region
The Waterloo Region Athlete of the Year award program showcases the accomplishments of local athletes.
Athletes are nominated in one of two categories – Athlete of the Year, and Outstanding Athletic Achievement.
Athlete of the Year
The Athlete of the Year Award recognizes a Waterloo Region athlete competing at the highest level of their sport, and who represents Waterloo Region on an international stage, and/or is a professional athlete.
Outstanding Athletic Achievement
The Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award recognizes a Waterloo Region athlete competing in various levels of sport across a broader level of competition, including high school, collegiate, amateur, or masters events.
2025 Athlete of the Year – Madison Richardson
Kitchener athlete Madison Richardson is Canada’s top-ranked female bouldering athlete, known for her powerful climbing style and consistent performances on the international stage.
In 2025, Richardson won the North American Cup Series in Montreal and was ranked 23rd in the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) standings.
During her climbing career Madison has had 9 IFSC World Cup Semi-Final appearances, 12 top 25 IFSC World Cup finishes, and has been the #1 ranked Canadian Female Boulder Athlete from 2022 – present.
Beyond competition, Madison is passionate about athlete wellness and mental health in high-performance sport. She is Chair of Climbing Canada’s Athlete Commission – working to create a healthier, more sustainable environment for Canadian next-generation athletes.
Madison also helped to develop the MacLachlan High Performance Climbing Program – the first of its kind in Canada
(Photo: FlashFocused)
2025 Outstanding Athletic Achievement – Brady Martin
Local hockey player Brady Martin is a forward who was selected 5th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by the amateur Nashville Predators. He recorded 1 assist in 3 NHL games in October 2025 before being assigned back to the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL where he was named captain, and had a dominant 2024-25 OHL season recording 72 points in 57 games.
In April 2025, Martin represented Canada at the IIHF World Men’s U18 Championship. During the tournament he ranked second on the team in scoring with three goals and eight assists in seven games and scored two goals in the gold medal game against Sweden.
In December 2025, he represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championship where he recorded four goals and four assists in six games.
Off the ice, Martin spends his time working on his family’s farm in Elmira.
(Photo: Ontario Hockey League)
