Tom Longboat award

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While almost a century has passed since Tom Longboat began running marathons, the memory of his many victories and accomplishments has stood the test of time, making his name synonymous with outstanding athletic achievement.

Longboat, a member of the Onondaga Nation, was born on the Six Nations Reserve in 1886. He won his first marathon in 1906, and went on to win the Boston Marathon in 1907. Other highlights of his running career include representing Canada in the 1908 Olympics, and winning the world professional marathon championship in 1909.

In 1999, 50 years after his death, Maclean's magazine voted him the number one sports figure of the 20th century.

Since 1951, his name and accomplishments have been honored through the Tom Longboat Award, given out each year to two of Canada's top Aboriginal athletes.

The Tom Longboat Award is co-ordinated by the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC), the national sports body for Aboriginal sport development.

The ASC also coordinates the annual National Aboriginal Coaching Award, handed out each year to two certified coaches that have demonstrated both their coaching skills and their dedication to their players and to the community.

Although the awards are handed out each year to recognize the most outstanding Aboriginal athletes and coaches in Canada, the awards criteria goes beyond just athletic achievements, explained Gina Doxtator, ASC program manager.

Nomination forms are available on the Aboriginal Sport Circle's Web site at http://www.aboriginalsportcircle.ca, or by calling the ASC national office at 613-938-1176.