‘Steinbach’s Olympian’ to be inducted into Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame

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This article was published 15/09/2022 (974 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

by CASSIDY DANKOCHIK

The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame will need a new master of ceremonies for their 2022 induction ceremony.

Sport Manitoba announced Sept. 13 Steinbach’s Michelle Sawatzky-Koop will be entering the hall as an honoured member as part of the class of 2022. Over the past 20 years, she’s helped organize the event, even serving on the hall’s board for a time.

When Sawatzky-Koop received the email saying she would become an honoured member of the hall from executive director Rick Brownlee, she thought is was a request to be M.C. once again, a role she has embraced for the past 20 years.

“At one point about five years ago, Rick said, ‘I think you’ve served your time (on the hall’s board)’” Sawatzky-Koop remembered.

“I had an inkling they were thinking of (inducting me), but that was five years ago… I did know my high school coach had worked with my dad to gather some things, and I was curious about that and apparently it was to nominate me.”

Despite knowing something was up a few years ago, because of her history working with the hall, the message she was going to become an honoured member was still a surprise.

“You never play sports for that (recognition),” Sawatzky-Koop said.

“I’ve had so many great memories and so many accomplishments. This is just really special. I feel really honoured.”

Her biggest accomplishment on the court came at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Sawatzky-Koop helped Canada win their only match at the Olympics, playing as the starting setter when Team Canada defeated Peru, fondly remembering walking out during the opening ceremonies and for their first match against Cuba.

While those Olympics may be her best acheivement on the court, she nearly didn’t get a chance to play.

“A big part of my story is I was the starting setter for Team Canada for many years, but heading to the Olympics the coach made a decision I wouldn’t be starting because of my size,” she recalled.

Despite being pulled from the starting role, Sawatzky-Koop, who stands a diminutive 5’6, soon won it back, and gave Canada their only women’s Olympic volleyball win. Playing through adversity was nothing new for the Steinbach Regional Secondary School graduate. She was cut from provincial teams, but was asked to return after other players dropped out.

“A lot of my story isn’t glamorous,” she said.

“I was always told I was far too small to play this sport. Maybe that overall is the highlight for me. I was able to carve out a career for myself based on heart, passion and hard-work.”

Sawatzky-Koop also heaped praise on her teammates from across the years.

“Especially when you’re my size, you can’t play volleyball alone,” she quipped.

“The other amazing women I played with just made it possible for me.”

After graduating high school, Sawatzky-Koop went on to play for the University of Manitoba Bisons, winning three consecutive national championships during her time with the program. She also won a bronze medal at the Pan American games in 1995.

Sawatzky-Koop credited former high school gym teacher Shannon (Ormiston) Kehler, for helping her see a path to success on and off the court, noting Kehler was the second person she called after hearing she was heading to the hall.

Sawatzky-Koop said Kehler was the first person who knew she was destined for great things on the court.

“She is for sure — and I’ve played with a lot of coaches — one of the best coaches I’ve ever played for in my life,” Sawatzky-Koop said.

“She cared about me as a person… A lot of people just said, ‘you’re too small, you can’t do it, your hands are too small, blah blah blah.’ Shannon saw me for me. She saw qualities that a lot of people didn’t see.”

Sawatzky-Koop said she is always proud to represent rural Manitoba, noting any elite athlete from outside the perimeter highway “has a chip on their shoulder.”

As a high school player, her parents had to drive to Virden twice a week to play club volleyball.

“When you think of this hall of fame, you think of your family, and my parents, the fact that they’re still with us,” Sawatzky-Koop said, fighting back tears.

“Really they should be in the hall of fame. They’re the greatest of all time.”

Sawatzky-Koop is still connected to volleyball, serving as an assistant coach for the Bisons women’s team over the past two years.

As for the induction ceremony Nov. 3, Sawatzky-Koop is looking forward to attending as an honoured member, not a worker.

“I’ll be happy to sit back and relax on this one,” she said, laughing.