Gold-medal bobsledder Kaillie Humphries wins Lou Marsh Trophy for Canadian athlete of the year

The 75th winner of the annual Lou Marsh Trophy is the first bobsledder ever to win it.

But Kaillie Humphries isn't your average bobsledder.

Not only did the 29-year-old win gold in the two-woman bobsled at the Olympics in Sochi (adding to the gold she won in 2010 in Vancouver), she also is a two-time defending World Cup champion.

Humphries has done more for the sport of women's bobsled than anyone before her. And, not satisfied with that, she will break new ground this year as she competes in the four-man (well, three men and a woman) bobsled on the men's World Cup circuit this year.

Humphries also has worked towards adding a four-woman event to the Olympics, which only has the one discipline for the women, who have been competing in bobsled for 30 years and at the Winter Olympics since 2002.

After completing the requirements to obtain eligibility to compete on the World Cup Tour last weekend, pilot Humphries and her crew are expected to make their official debut next month in Calgary.

Among the four other finalists for the award were Canada's two top tennis players, Eugenie Bouchard on the women's side and Milos Raonic on the men's side – both of whom had standout seasons in 2014. Defenceman Drew Doughty, who won a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings and an Olympic gold medal with Canada at the Sochi Winter Games, also made the final five, as did 21-year-old lacrosse player Johnny Powless.

A committee of 20 sports media members from across Canada, chaired by Olympian Silken Laumann (who won the Lou Marsh in 1991 but didn't have a vote) decided Wednesday morning.