When Airdrie’s Larissa Armstrong mounted the podium at Nakiska April 8 after her final ski race of the season, it wasn’t to receive a medal for her performance on the slopes.
The 10-year-old skier was instead surprised with the Cary Mullen Character Award, becoming one of two recipients of the award’s Under-12 category this year. Armstrong said when she received the award, she was surprised and a little confused, but ultimately very excited.
“I don’t think that even if I got a gold medal I would be as proud as when I got this award,” she said. “I’m really happy that I got it.”
The award is named after and sponsored by Cary Mullen, a two-time Olympian and World Cup ski racing champion. According to Mullen’s website, the award recognizes “young athletes who display the character of a champion,” exemplifying courage, commitment, confidence and camaraderie.
Unbeknownst to Armstrong or her father Chris, she was nominated for the award by her coach, Zoe Brooker. Brooker, the U12 coach of the Nakiska Alpine Ski Association (NASA), wrote in a testimonial that Armstrong exemplified the qualities recognized by the Cary Mullen Character Award.
“As a somewhat shy athlete with few close friends, she is always the first athlete to pipe up and cheer on any and every athlete on the team, whether female or male, in all situations,” Brooker wrote. “Regardless of her own shortcomings and frustrations at certain times during training and in races, she will push aside her own feelings to recognize and congratulate everyone else on their achievements.”
While Armstrong had never made it onto the podium before, she is known as a supportive teammate. Last season, the Mount Allen Ski Team (MAST) – a part of NASA – awarded her the U10+ Sportsmanship Award. According to Chris, no one has to ask Larissa to cheer her teammates during medal ceremonies – sometimes, he said he has to prod her away when it’s time to go home.
Armstrong said it’s important to be a selfless teammate and cheer on her peers. Putting herself in their shoes, she said, she would be disappointed if she weren’t supported for her accomplishments.
“I always like to go to watch the medal ceremony and stuff like that because even though sometimes I might just be really tired, it can sometimes cheer me up by cheering on other teammates,” she said.
“I have been the only person cheering on at the bottom of a race course, and it can make (my teammates) feel better. I think that it makes them perform a bit better because they feel confident at the start.”
Chris said it’s important to recognize players of all sports who contribute in ways that aren’t always reflected on the scoreboard or the timesheet.
“Larissa’s not unique in her attitude to sport and playing sport and competing and supporting her teammates,” he said.
“Every team must have someone with Larissa’s qualities, and they should be lauded.”
Armstrong said with the award in hand, she’s excited for the upcoming ski season.
“It makes me want to continue to keep trying to be a good teammate,” she said.
