Canadian Olympic softball medallist Erika Polidori named Brantford’s sportsperson of the year

Canadian Olympic softball medallist Erika Polidori named Brantford’s sportsperson of the year
14/03/2022
“I’m really proud of how our team and program handled adversity and how I handled it individually,” Polidori said.

Canadian Olympic bronze medallist Erika Polidori received the last weekend the Frank Tomlin Memorial Award presented to Brantford’s sportsperson of the year. Polidori was the starting left fielder for the Canadian squad at the Tokyo 2020 Games that won the country’s first ever Olympic softball medal. 

“I’m really proud of how our team and program handled adversity and how I handled it individually,” Polidori told The Brantford Expositor. “It wasn’t easy to do the things that needed to be done to be successful at the Olympic level. It was never the journey that we expected it to be. But it was almost better in a way because of what we were able to accomplish in spite of all the obstacles.”

Polidori, who received her award on Saturday during the Brantford Sports Council’s 16th annual awards banquet at the Sanderson Centre, joins past winners that include hockey great Wayne Gretzky, runners Kevin Sullivan and Krista DuChene, swimmer Julie Howard, golfer David Hearn and, last year’s recipient, figure skating coach Alison Purkiss.

Polidori, who scored Canada’s second run in the Tokyo 2020 Bronze Medal Game, where her team defeated Mexico, 3-2, adds a veteran presence to the Canadian National Team. “I just feel like I wasn’t quite done. I have more to give to the sport. And I want to challenge myself more and continue to grow as an athlete and person.”

Polidori, who serves as a WBSC Athlete Representative since 2018, wants the next generation of younger girls to be able to compete, develop and be part of an excellent program. “I want the sport to keep growing. And I feel like, as an older player who has been through a lot of different experiences, I want to stay in it and guide the next group into whatever is next for the program.”

After the Olympics, Kaleigh Rafter replaced Mark Smith as the head coach of the National Team. Polidori said it’s great to have Rafter, her former teammate, leading the process. “I couldn’t be happier for her and the program. She was a great leader for us as a player and it makes total sense for her to step into this role now.”

This season, Canada will compete in the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C., from 20-26 June, as well as The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Ala., from 9-12 July, and the WBSC Americas Pan American Championship (dates and location to be confirmed).