Catharine Pendrel discovered mountain biking at sixteen after years of horseback riding and quickly set her sights on representing Canada. Moving from the East Coast to Victoria, she trained at the University of Victoria while earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology.

A four-time Olympian, Catharine captured a Bronze medal in Mountain Biking at the Rio 2016 Olympics, rebounding from an early crash to reach the podium. She also competed at the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, entering London as the reigning World Champion. Over her storied career, she won three overall World Cup titles (2010, 2012, 2016), Gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and Pan Am Games medals (Gold 2007, Silver 2015). Known for her resilience, she repeatedly overcame injuries to remain among the world’s best. Beyond racing, Catharine founded Pendrel Racing, serves on the People in Motion Board, and supports youth cycling through the Kamloops Bike Riders Association.

Sponsored by University of Victoria Vikes Athletics and Recreation

Cleve Dheensaw has covered sports for the Times Colonist since 1981, chronicling Vancouver Island athletes and events from high school competitions to the Olympics and World Cups. Over more than four decades, his reporting captured the achievements of Island athletes such as Silken Laumann, Steve Nash, Simon Whitfield, and the legendary Gait twins, documenting an era of Island sport that spans generations.

A native of Vancouver Island and a graduate of Victoria High School and the University of Victoria, Cleve began his journalism career writing for the Camosunette and the Martlet before joining the Times Colonist Sports Department in 1981. He has authored six books covering the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, lacrosse history, and Island sports.

Cleve’s career earned him induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2020 as the first media inductee outside the Vancouver market. He is also the recipient of the U SPORTS National Fred Sgambati Media Award. He now enters the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025, winner of the Sid Thomas Award. Among his favourite stories are George Pakos’ 1986 World Cup goals, Laumann’s 1992 Olympic comeback, Whitfield’s Sydney 2000 gold, and the Gait twins’ transformative impact on lacrosse.

Sponsored by Victoria Shamrocks, Victoria Grizzlies, Victoria HarbourCats