(HAMILTON, ON) February 28, 2003 – Cyclist Sue Palmer-Komar was honoured tonight as the 2002 Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year. The award, sponsored by The Hamilton Spectator, was presented at the 17th Annual CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) Sports Celebrity Dinner.

The other candidates for the award were fencer Josh McGuire, ranked as the No. 1 junior in the world, and rower Joe Stankevicius, a member of Canada'sworld champion heavy eights crew.

Palmer-Komar won a silver medal in the road race at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. She finished in 10th place in the road race at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Palmer-Komar is a member of the Genesis Scuba/FFCC Cycling team and is preparing to compete against the world on her home turf.

A Hamilton native, she is no doubt looking forward to the Road World Championships in her hometown, October 6 to 12, and was quoted in an interview with Jeff Dickins of the Hamilton Spectator on February 25 saying, “I think it will be a real treat for fans to see that level of competition live — to get to share in the excitement. Hopefully, there will be something to home field advantage.”

The Hamilton 2003 Cycling Championships Organizing Committee would like to congratulate Sue on being named Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year.