Kylie Masse, Swimming, Toronto
Kylie Masse’s championship-pedigree not only earned her the OUA’s Female Athlete of the Year award, but also helped to cement her place as one of the most elite athletes that the OUA has ever witnessed.
BURLINGTON, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is proud to announce that Toronto Varsity Blues swimming sensation Kylie Masse (LaSalle, Ont.) has been recognized as the conference’s Female Athlete of the Year for the 2017-18 season.
The world has become accustomed to seeing Masse put up eye-popping results, but even she was able to top her lofty standards to kick off the 2017-18 season. The Team Canada Olympian captured the 100m backstroke in a world-record time at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, becoming Canada's first female swimmer to win a world title. Beyond that, Masse also helped Canada to a bronze-medal finish in the 4x100 mixed medley relay.
Beyond her international success, Masse continued to exhibit her prowess in the pools during another triumphant OUA season. At the 2017-18 OUA Swimming Championships in February, the Varsity Blues veteran won four individual gold medals and a pair of relay gold to bring her impressive total to six, capturing the 50m and 100m backstroke, the 50m freestyle, and the 100m butterfly, to go along with the 200m freestyle and 200m medley relays. If those medal-winning efforts weren’t enough, Masse also broke five OUA records in the process, helping to lead Toronto to a fifth consecutive provincial banner.
After her record-setting efforts, Masse was deservedly named the OUA Female Swimmer of the Year for the fourth consecutive season, and captured U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Month honours for February – one of two such honours for the LaSalle, Ont. native on the year. Her national recognition didn’t stop there; however, as Masse would once again carve out her spot on the U SPORTS stage as well.
At the national championships, despite an impressive level of competition, the First-Team All-Canadian managed to wow the crowd once again in her home pool, sweeping the backstroke events, while also taking home the 100m butterfly crown; all accomplished in U SPORTS record times. She then helped Toronto's 200m freestyle and 200m medley relays to gold and silver-medal finishes, respectively.
In addition to her individual success, the fourth-year swimmer represented the Varsity Blues group in fine form en route to a to a team silver-medal finish at the U SPORTS Championship. And backed by her four gold medals, Masse left no doubt about her status in the sport, being named the U SPORTS Female Swimmer of the Year for the third straight season.
All in all, Masse’s championship-pedigree not only earned her the OUA’s Female Athlete of the Year award, but also helped to cement her place as one of the most elite athletes that the OUA has ever witnessed.