50 Years of Sport PEI Awards – Barbara McNeill
The 2023 Sport PEI awards will be our 50th edition! To celebrate this milestone, we wanted to take a look back at those who have received the Lieutenant Governor’s award as PEI’s top athlete of the year.
Barbara McNeill – Swimming – 1989
Barbara McNeill won the Lieutenant Governor’s award in 1990 for her efforts in swimming, particularly, Marathon swimming. In 1989, Barb would become the first resident of PEI to successfully swim the English channel. McNeill completed the 34 km swim in 17 hours and 10 minutes (17:10). Even despite two unsuccessful attempts, Barb became the 15th Canadian and first Atlantic Canadian to complete the incredible feat in 1989. Barb would be inducted in the PEI Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and would receive the Order of PEI in 2004.
Feel free to share with us your favourite Sport PEI awards memory!