Local sailors dominate in Navy Sports Achievement Awards

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Two naval officers from CFB Esquimalt have captured three of five achievement awards in the Royal Canadian Navy category for the Canadian Armed Forces sports awards program.

The 2017 RCN Sports Achievement Awards were announced May 18 in Ottawa and Lieutenant (Navy) Krista Seguin, who works for Base Administration, made it a double play when she was named Female Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year. Also capturing top honours is Lt(N) Nicholas Lightbody of Base Information Services, who took the title for Male Athlete of the Year.

Lt(N) Seguin was being recognized for her participation on the sitting volleyball team and her gold-medal performance in powerlifting at Invictus Games Toronto 2017, and for her coaching of the CFB Esquimalt Tritons women’s volleyball team. The Base Accommodations Officer suffers from a medical condition in her right leg coupled with many complications and is in the process of being medically released from the Canadian Armed Forces.

“Being acknowledged with two awards was very surprising and also inspiring for me since I am someone who has had an injury and lots of setbacks along the way in my recovery,” said Lt(N) Seguin. “I don’t play for recognition like this, but instead for my passion and efforts to help others achieve their goals.”

She was named Invictus Games 2018 sitting volleyball coach earlier this year by the Soldier On program. This week she is off to Ottawa to coach the Invictus team in a display match at a Volleyball Nations League tournament where her team will face Canada’s Paralympic team.

Lt(N) Lightbody – a successful long-distance runner, swimmer and triathlete – is a former Combat Systems Engineer. He currently working for BIS and is posted to the Naval Reserve Unit HMCS Discovery in Vancouver.

Last October, he finished 26th overall at the Miami 70.3 half ironman race that qualified him for this September’s world championships in South Africa. He also took second place in the Canadian Armed Forces National Triathlon Championships held last July in Gatineau, Quebec, and five gold medals and one silver at the Canadian Armed Forces Swimming Nationals in Unionville, ON, in April 2017.

More recently he finished in 20th place overall out of 9,000 runners at the BMO Half Marathon in Vancouver on May 6. He is now preparing for the Victoria 70.3 half ironman race on June 3.

The honours put both athletes in the running for the Canadian Armed Forces national sports awards, which will be announced later this year.  In his congratulatory remarks, Chief Petty Officer First Class Robert Spinelli, Base Chief, noted the uniqueness and significance of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) / CFB Esquimalt in dominating this year’s awards.

“It’s really quite remarkable that at one base we are celebrating both male and female athlete of the year titles and coach of the year as well,” said CPO1 Spinelli. “Both winners set excellent examples for others because both Lt(N) Seguin and Lt(N) Lighbody exhibit outstanding leadership skills at work and balance that with an unparalleled spirit of determination in athletics.”

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2017 RCN Sports Achievement Awards

Established to recognize military members who have achieved impressive results as competitors, coaches or officials in military or civilian sports programs. Winners will be considered for selection for CAF Overall Award winners.

• Male Athlete of the Year: Lt(N) Nicholas Lightbody, CFB Esquimalt
• Female Athlete of the Year: Lt(N) Krista Seguin, CFB Esquimalt
• Coach of the Year: Lt(N) Krista Seguin, CFB Esquimalt
• Official of the Year: Capt Steven Stuart, CFB Halifax
• Team of the Year: CFB Halifax Basketball Team

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