Two U of A students selected as 2026 U Sports Athletes of the Year

Ryder Rattee and Abby Guezen entered the 2025–26 season focused on competing at the highest level in their respective sports. Neither expected to leave the year as the top athletes in Canadian university athletics.

Rattee is a member of the Golden Bears track and field team, and Guezen is a volleyball player with the Pandas. The two were named the 2026 U Sports Athletes of the Year following record-setting seasons.

For Rattee, the recognition came as a surprise after an inconsistent season affected by injury. Guezen, meanwhile, said the award represented the collective effort of her teammates, coaches, and support system that helped the Pandas capture both the Canada West and U Sports championships.

A season of resilience for Rattee

Rattee competes in sprint and middle-distance events, including 300-metre and 600-metre races. Despite dealing with back problems throughout the season, he finished the year undefeated in his individual races and won three gold medals at national championships.

“When I got nominated, I kind of thought it was wishful thinking,” Rattee said. “Especially at the beginning of the year, it wasn’t something that was weighing on my mind at all.”

He received the award during the U Sports ceremony, where the announcement was made in front of fellow athletes and coaches. “Honestly, it was just a surprise,” Rattee said. “It was a little stressful getting up there after getting it, but I was just excited for sure.”

While the award recognizes an individual athlete, Rattee said the achievement reflects the people around him, including his coaches, teammates, and family. “As much as it is an individual sport, you need a team,” he said.

Rattee added that the support from the university’s track and field program helped him overcome the challenges of an unpredictable season.

Guezen’s championship season

For Guezen, the award came after one of the most successful seasons in Pandas volleyball history. The team won both the Canada West and U Sports championships, with Guezen playing a key leadership role as one of the team captains.

She said the team’s previous championship losses motivated them throughout the season. “We knew what feeling we didn’t want to have at the end of the year,” Guezen said. “We really put our mission, everything we did in our daily life, into winning the championship.”

From training and recovery to preparation outside of games, Guezen said that the team remained focused on achieving its goals. “We knew there would be ups and downs throughout the season, but we knew we just had to peak when it mattered at the end of the year,” she said.

The defining moment of the season came during the Canada West championship at home, where the Pandas won in front of their supporters at the U of A. “Getting to do it in front of the home crowd and getting to realize the feeling of how many people in our community supported our volleyball team was really cool,” Guezen said.

A historic achievement for the U of A

With both Rattee and Guezen receiving the national honour, the U of A became only the second institution in U Sports history to have both the men’s and women’s Athletes of the Year in the same season.

The milestone was made even more significant by the fact that both athletes are hometown athletes. Rattee, an Edmonton native, and Guezen, who grew up in Sherwood Park, both chose to compete for their hometown university, making the university’s historic double honour a homegrown achievement.

Both athletes said the achievement reflects the strength of the university’s athletic programs and the support available to student athletes. “I think it means that obviously we’re doing something right,” Rattee said. “The facilities, the people who want to see us succeed, the support systems around us — it shows what the school has to offer.”

Guezen said sharing the award with Rattee made the achievement even more meaningful. “It was super cool that we got to do it together and go through the experience together,” she said. “Bringing home something like that for the U of A and making our school proud was really special.”

Building towards the next level

Both athletes have now set their sights on the next stages of their careers.

Rattee recently helped Canada qualify for the world championships while setting a national record. He said the experience changes his perspective on what is possible. “It felt like I was in a movie,” Rattee said. “When I started track, I never thought that would be something I would achieve.”

Looking ahead, Rattee has his sights set on competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “Every day at training is centred around peaking in 2028,” he said. “It’s about trusting my coaches and continuously developing a training plan that will get me there.”

Guezen is also moving into professional ranks, preparing to begin her career in Italy’s Serie A1 volleyball league. She said she is excited to experience a new environment while continuing to develop as a player. “I’m super excited to work with new players and coaches and hopefully evolve my game even more,” Guezen said.

Advice for the next generation

Despite reaching the highest levels in their respective sports, both athletes emphasized the importance of support systems and believing in themselves.

Rattee encouraged young athletes to build relationships with those around them. “You can’t do everything yourself,” he said. “You need to build a support system because you’ll get burnt out and run down.”

Guezen offered a similar message about pursuing ambitious goals. “Never let anyone tell you no,” she advised. “If your mind’s set on something, then make it happen. And if for some reason it doesn’t work out, at least you tried.”