MONTREAL – Swimming Canada began unveiling its annual Big Splash Awards Wednesday as Benoit Huot and Aurelie Rivard were named the Team Aquatic Supplies Male and Female Para-swimmers of the Year.

The annual awards, which recognize the best performances by Canadian Para-swimmers, were announced on RDS Sports 30. Both swimmers were presented with handmade Inuit sculptures by Canadian artists, certified by the Government of Canada.

It’s the second straight award for Rivard, who became a double world champion and set a world record in 2015.

“This year was very special,” said the 19-year-old from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. “I’ve had the best performances of my life and I was able to achieve two of my forever goals: to become a world champ and break a world record.”

Rivard won the S10 50-m and 400-m freestyle at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. She then went on to dominate the Parapan Am Games in Toronto, winning a record seven medals, including six gold. Rivard set six Pan Am Games marks, two Americas records, and a new world best (59.17) in the S10 100-m freestyle.

“I’m super happy to win this award,” Rivard said. “It’s a great honour, especially for the second year in a row. This award is a little boost of confidence for the big year ahead.”

Meanwhile, it’s the 11^th time winning the award for Paralympic legend Huot. Huot captured two silvers (SM10 200-m individual medley, S10 400-m freestyle) and a bronze (S10 100-m backstroke) at IPC Worlds. He then went on to take gold in the 400 free at Parapan Ams, and silver in the 200 IM, 100 back and 34-point 4×100-m medley relay.

“2015 was a big year for para sport in our country. I was proud and lucky to be part of it,” said the 31-year-old from Longueuil, Que. “I believe we really brought our movement to another level with the Parapan Ams and the amazing coverage from CBC. I am excited and ready to have an amazing year getting ready for the 2016 Paralympic Games.”

The award sculptures were created by artists from the Inuit community of Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, on the Belcher Islands in Hudson Bay. Rivard received a loon sculpture created by Jimmy Eyaituk, while Huot’s sculpture is a whale by Sam Kavik. In addition, each swimmer’s coach will be honoured. Rivard’s coach France Latendresse will also receive a loon by Jimmy Eyaituk, while Huot’s coach of record Marc-Andre Duchesneau receives a whale by Simeonie Kavik.

Huot also mentioned that his former coach Pierre Lamy, and High Performance Centre – Ontario Head Coach Ben Titley deserve credit as well, for coaching Huot during part of the year.

Both swimmers are preparing for the Rio 2016 Paralympics, with Rivard continuing to work with Latendresse at Club de Natation du Haut-Richelieu. Benoit is now part of the Para-swimming Intensive Training Program – Quebec under Mike Thompson

Swimming Canada will continue announcing its Big Splash Awards throughout the coming weeks.