Chambana Sun

Illinois volleyball player Taylor de Boer has been named the recipient of the 2025 AthletesCAN True Sport Award at the Canadian Sport Awards in Calgary, Alberta. The award honors a Canadian athlete who demonstrates values such as fairness, excellence, inclusion, and fun, both in sport and in the broader community.

De Boer, a redshirt sophomore from Kelowna, British Columbia, was recognized for her perseverance and resilience after being diagnosed with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) vasculitis, a rare autoimmune disease, in the summer of 2023. At the time, she was 17 and had just returned from serving as team captain for Canada’s U19 team at the Pan American Cup. She spent a month in critical care at OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, during which she became involved with Uplifting Athletes, an organization focused on raising awareness and funds for rare diseases. Her efforts earned her the title of Rare Disease Champion from the organization.

After missing her freshman season in 2023 due to her illness, de Boer returned to play in 11 matches last year and has since regained her form. She led Team Canada to its first-ever medal at the U23 Pan American Cup over the summer and currently leads the University of Illinois in kills, recording double-digit kills in 11 of her first 13 appearances in 2025.

In her virtual acceptance speech, de Boer said, "I'm truly honored to accept the True Sport Award. To even be mentioned alongside all the amazing Canadian athletes who have come before me is truly an honor. Growing up in Canada, I learned early that excellence isn't measured by wins and losses but how you carry yourself, how you support your teammates, and how you face challenges with perseverance and integrity. My own journey has not been without obstacles, but through those moments, I have learned more about myself than ever before.

"This sport has given me resilience, community, and a voice, a voice that I want to use to inspire others to believe in themselves and believe in the power that sport can change lives. I want to thank Volleyball Canada for giving me the opportunity to represent my country and to live out my passion for the game on the international stage. I will continue to dedicate myself to growing as an athlete, a teammate, and a person while always striving to reflect the values of fairness, excellence, inclusion, and fun, both on and off the court.

"To AthletesCAN and the Canadian Sport Awards, thank you for recognizing me not just as an athlete, but for the values that define who we are as people. Thank you to my coaches, teammates, friends, and especially my family for believing in me. I accept this award not only for myself, but for every young athlete who dreams big, faces adversity, and still chooses to play with joy. Thank you so much!"

De Boer was selected from among other finalists Eric Furtado-Rodrigues (Wheelchair Rugby) and Ruby Stevens (Para Swimming and Wheelchair Rugby). Previous recipients of the True Sport Award include Ellie Black (Artistic Gymnastics, 2024), Michael Woods (Cycling, 2023), Molly Carlson (High Diving, 2022), Evan Dunfee (Athletics, 2021), Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (Football, 2020), Christine Sinclair (Soccer, 2019), and Jill Officer (Curling, 2018).

More information about AthletesCAN and the Canadian Sport Awards is available HERE.