Hudson Booth is the recipient of the Special Olympics award of excellence for 2019. This award recognizes a Special Olympics athlete who has excelled locally, provincially or nationally and possesses qualities consistent with the Special Olympics mandate “Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt."
Hudson had a long and successful athletic career at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School.
Booth was on the Special Olympics school basketball, soccer, bocce and baseball teams that went almost undefeated in the years he was on these teams. He qualified for three High School Special Olympic Provincial championships in bocce, basketball and soccer.
Hudson was a major force on the Almaguin cross country team, the Nordic ski team as well as the track and field team. He won, collectively, as many as 11 OFSAA provincial championship medals from these sports, setting several personal best performances, school records, as well as a record in the 800m race at OFSAA in grade 9 and 10.
Hudson won the inaugural Special Olympics/Para Athlete of the Year Award at Almaguin and won it several years thereafter. It was created because of him.
Hudson has recently attracted attention from Athletics Canada and the Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association. In 2018, he was selected to represent Canada at the Cerebral Palsy World Games in Saint Cugat, Spain. Since that time Hudson has continued training 5 days a week, year-round. He spends several nights a week in Huntsville training with his coach, Dad, and most Saturdays training with his “I Be Fast” track team in Scarborough.
In January 2019 he won gold and silver in Nordic skiing at the Ontario Special Olympics Provincial Games in Sault Ste. Marie which earned him a spot-on Team Ontario for the Special Olympics Canadian National Winter Games in Thunder Bay in February 2020. At the National games, he won bronze in the 2.5km skate ski and the 3x100m relay and was 6th in the 5km Classic race. He has also been selected to be on the Team Ontario Para track team for the past two years.
Hudson also participates in several other Special Olympic sports such as bowling in Almaguin, and golf, soccer and basketball in North Bay. He has also started playing hockey with the North Bay North Stars this year.
According to his coaches, "Hudson is a hardworking and dedicated athlete."
"He keeps himself motivated by always wanting to improve his own times each time he competes," stated Chair Bill Jacko in a release.
"He is also eager to learn how to do things correctly no matter how difficult it is for him. Hudson exemplifies good sportsmanship. He is encouraging to all his fellow athletes and never gets upset. His motto is just to do the best you can do. Hudson is an inspiration to coaches and athletes alike."
The Board of Directors of the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame are advising the 40th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2020 has been cancelled. The four individuals scheduled to be inducted will be inducted at next year’s dinner. The 2019 Hall of Fame Award Winners will be recognized and presented their awards at a later date this year.
Any questions regarding ticket refunds should be directed to Chair Bill Jacko at 705-492-3961.
