Lewin-LaFrance Sisters Named Sailors of the Year
The Chester, Nova Scotia pair earned the national honour following a dominant 2025 season on the water.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Olympics
Live Poll
Should your community do more to recognize and support the achievements of local amateur athletes?
Sail Canada has named sisters Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance the 2026 Sailors of the Year. The recognition follows their standout performance in 2025, during which they secured four medals across six international competitions.
Why it matters
The award celebrates athletes who elevate Canadian sailing on the global stage through excellence and leadership. By securing this honour, the sisters continue their momentum toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Lewin-LaFrance sisters won four medals across six competitions in 2025 and currently hold the first-place world ranking in the 49erFX class. Their campaign has spanned eight years of collaboration leading up to this national award.
The players
Antonia Lewin-LaFrance
She is an elite sailor from Chester, Nova Scotia, who has partnered with her sister for eight years to pursue Olympic success.
Georgia Lewin-LaFrance
She is an accomplished sailor and the sister of Antonia, with whom she won the 2025 Gallagher Skippers' Plan Female Athletes of the Year Award.
Sail Canada
This is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in Canada, responsible for promoting the sport and recognizing top performers.
The details
The duo achieved a gold medal at the European Championships in Greece and bronze medals at French Olympic Week, Kiel Week, and the World Championships in Italy. Additionally, they became the first Canadians to medal at the 49erFX World Championships.
Timeline
1986: Sail Canada began presenting the Sailor of the Year award.
2024: The Lewin-LaFrance sisters competed in their first Olympic Games.
January 1 to December 31, 2025: The performance period evaluated for the 2026 award.
October 21, 2026: Sail Canada officially announced the 2026 Sailors of the Year.
2028: The scheduled Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Season Trajectory
This award marks a significant milestone in the sisters' rise within the World Sailing 49erFX class rankings. Their consistent podium finishes position them as primary contenders for the Canadian sailing team heading into the 2028 Olympic cycle.
The sisters began the 2026 season holding the first-place ranking in the 49erFX class from World Sailing. This establishes them as the team to watch for future Olympic qualification and international regatta performance metrics.
The takeaway
The Lewin-LaFrance sisters demonstrate how multi-year collaborative planning translates into top-tier athletic performance. Their success highlights the importance of consistency in high-level competitive sailing.
Further reading
For more on the national sailing scene, visit the Olympics section.
More information
View the complete Sailor of the Year award history on the official site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Sport Information Resource Centre.
Live Poll
Should your community do more to recognize and support the achievements of local amateur athletes?
