Alexandre Bilodeau Voted Air Canada Athlete of the Year

Canadian freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau has been voted as the winner of the Air Canada Athlete of the Year Award in a national online poll.

At the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Alex Bilodeau, already a giant in the world of moguls skiing, became the first Canadian man (and just the second Canadian athlete ever) to successfully defend an individual Olympic gold medal.

Now retired from competition, he also became the first freestyle skier in any discipline to win two Olympic gold medals.

"Air Canada extends its heartfelt congratulations to Alexandre who has been chosen to receive the Air Canada Athlete of the Year Award for 2014. He exemplifies the leadership, dedication and commitment to excellence the award celebrates and it is evident that Canadians recognize his hard work and talent," said Craig Landry, Vice President of Marketing at Air Canada. "As a sponsor of the Canadian Olympic Team, we take great pride in our association with all of our Canadian athletes and also congratulate curler Jennifer Jones and bobsledder Kaillie Humphries who were the runners-up for this award. Additionally, we thank the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who took time to vote for their favorite athlete in our national poll."

The Air Canada Athlete of the Year Award was presented last year to short track speed skater Charles Hamelin, and in 2012 to soccer player Christine Sinclair.

In order to raise the athletes' profiles and engage all Canadians, the winners are chosen by a public vote from a short-list of finalists selected by a committee representing Air Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian government, The Canadian Press and also last year's Award winner.

The winner will receive two Business Class tickets to anywhere in the world Air Canada flies, as well as Super Elite 100K status in Air Canada's Altitude program for one year.