The photos and accomplishments of two local athletes now adorn the City of Airdrie's 'Elite Athlete Wall' at Genesis Place Recreation Centre.
On Feb. 9, plaques for UFC fighter Chad Anheliger and track-and-field athlete Sienna MacDonald were added to the wall, which recognizes both athletic excellence and commitment to community service.
“We are pleased to be able to recognize the outstanding athletes in Airdrie who have shown extraordinary dedication to both their sport and their community through the Elite Athlete program,” said Clay Aragon, City of Airdrie manager of recreation, culture and social planning, in a City press release.
“This year’s recipients are both rising stars in their respective sports and have already demonstrated incredible skill. We are excited to see where their careers take them.”
The Airdrie Elite Athlete program was created to celebrate current or former long-time Airdrie residents who have achieved athletic excellence in their field and who have made significant contributions to the Airdrie community.
The program was called off for two years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned in 2022, when the City called on residents to nominate first-class athletes in the community to recognize their “exceptional status” in their field of sport.
MacDonald and Anheliger were endorsed as this year's Airdrie Elite Athletes during a council meeting last November.
MacDonald, 20, is a George McDougall High School alumna and current multi-event athlete for the University of Calgary Dinos. Her accomplishments in track-and-field are numerous, but some recent highlights include winning the women's pentathlon at the 2022 Canada West indoor track-and-field championships and winning the heptathlon at the 2022 National Canadian Track and Field Championships.
“She has racked up an impressive record including winning a national championship in heptathlon, a Canada West championship in pentathlon, and a gold medal in the 60-metre hurdles at the Simplot Games,” the City of Airdrie stated. “She has made many contributions to the local sport community, coaching basketball and officiating track and field.”
Anheliger was nominated after competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), considered the pinnacle of competition for mixed martial artists. He was the 2022 Las Vegas UFC debut winner by knockout; the 2021 winner of the Dana White Contender Series (for which he was awarded a UFC contract), and won the 2019 Bantamweight Championship Canadian Pro Title by knockout.
“His hard work, determination and skill shows through his outstanding win record, earning him a spot amongst the best in the world in his sport, states the City of Airdrie.
Some of the other Airdronians on the Elite Athlete Wall include former Olympic luger Eric Pothier, former world-champion arm-wrestler (and current City councillor) Darrel Belyk, and former gymnastics world champion gold-and-silver-medalist Corissa Boychuk.
Nominations for the Airdrie Elite Athlete program are accepted year-round and are reviewed every fall. Residents can learn more about the Airdrie Elite Athlete program and find a list of past recipients at airdrie.ca/eliteathlete.
