Decathlete Warner wins Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete

Olympic decathlon champion Damian Warner is the 2021 winner of the Lou Marsh Trophy recognizing Canada's top athlete, according to the Toronto Star's Laura Armstrong.

A panel of Canadian sports journalists determined the winner.

After capturing bronze at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, Warner had a historic gold-medal performance in Tokyo. His 9,018-point performance broke the previous Olympic record of 8,893 points, and he set additional records in individual components of the decathlon - including long jump and 100m hurdles.

The 32-year-old London, Ontario, native is the first track and field athlete to receive the honor since sprinter Donovan Bailey in 1996.

In addition to Warner, the final shortlist of nominees featured:

• Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich left-back and Team Canada winger
• Andre De Grasse, 200m Olympic gold medalist
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays first baseman
• Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers center
• Stephanie Labbé, Olympic gold medalist and PSG soccer goalkeeper
• Maggie Mac Neil, three-time Olympic medalist swimmer