Rising Sport Stars
Many young athletes in our community are just beginning a lifelong journey of being active and achieving success in sport. Through the Rising Sport Stars program, athletes aged 7* to 12 years who participate in a Red Deer sport organization are recognized for their commitment, passion, effort or for overcoming adversity to successfully participate and develop skills, regardless of result. The Rising Sport Star program supports local sport organizations, as they develop participants by following Sport for Life’s “Long Term Athlete Development” model. You can read more here.
*Must be 7 years old by December 31, 2026.
Nominations are now closed.
Rising Sport Stars 2026
Photo credit Nicole.H Photography.
Award recipients:
| Name | Sport |
| Aaron Stearn | Badminton |
| Aleeah Walsh | Cheerleading |
| Alexis Williams | Sledge Hockey |
| Anna Zhuravel | Figure Skating |
| Annelief Roos van Benthem | Speed Skating |
| Aubrey Connon | Ringette |
| Austin Woods | Sledge Hockey |
| Autumn Rosenkranz | Alpine Skiing |
| Avril Kymber Lin | Tennis |
| Bennett Cochrane | Hockey |
| Brianna Ross | Figure Skating |
| Brielle Pitre | Ringette |
| Brynn Weiss | Ringette |
| Caleb Frith | Speed Skating |
| Cecilia Congdon | Figure Skating |
| Charlee Cunningham | Ringette |
| Clara William | Figure Skating |
| Dima Lybbert | Speed Skating |
| Dryden Bieganek | Hockey |
| Emily Pepper | Figure Skating |
| Emma de Vries | Speed Skating |
| Enver Froese | Sledge Hockey |
| Ethan Lester | Speed Skating |
| Graham Ong | Speed Skating |
| Gwendolynn Boven | Figure Skating |
| Holly Brant | Figure Skating |
| Isla Wallace | Cross Country Skiing |
| Jacob Kowalski-Dugas | Speed Skating |
| Jamal Olamy | Soccer |
| Jayken de Andrade | Cross Country Skiing |
| Jaysen Hamony | Tennis |
| Joshua Benke | Cross Country Skiing/Biathlon |
| Jun Malito | Badminton |
| Kenzi Szakacs | Figure Skating |
| Lina Poteet | Swimming |
| Macy Cournoyer | Swimming |
| Maizie Husch | Figure Skating |
| Mila Heikkila | Swimming |
| Molly Rose Johnson | Figure Skating |
| Moraine Tecson | Figure Skating |
| Naiyah Jansen | Swimming |
| Nile Froese | Sledge Hockey |
| Oliver Triguero | Sledge Hockey |
| Rhett de Andrade | Cross Country Skiing |
| Theo Richmond | Cross Country Skiing |
| William Wilson | Alpine Skiing |
| Zekiah Knorr | Swimming |
| Zoe Austin | Swimming |
For more information on the Rising Sport Star program please contact:
City of Red Deer - Recreation Section
Phone: 403-309-8541
recreation@reddeer.ca