Awarded to the winner of the Men’s C-1 Junior 500m

Andreas (Andy) Toro competed in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics while he was a Hungarian citizen, and won his Olympic bronze medal while competing for that country. In 1962 he also won a World Championship in the C-1 10,000 meter event. Andy defected from Hungary while at the 1964 Olympics and took up residence in Michigan.

He earned a degree from the University of Michigan and began working as a naval architect and marine engineering consultant. He also began competing in canoe races in this country and when his citizenship came through in 1971, he was then eligible to compete for the United States Olympic team, which he did twice; once in 1972 and again 1976.

Andy also won four U.S. Championships, the C-1 in 1969 and C-2 in 1969-71. After his racing was finished he took to coaching and coached many, many US Olympians in the 1970s and 1980s.

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Winners

YEAR	AWARDED TO
2025	Benjamin Ciaccio
2024	Connor Peterson
2023	Weston Hester
2022	Weston Hester
2021	Weston Hester
2020	Not Awarded due to Covid-19 Pandemic
2019	Edward Surles
2018	Edward Surles
2017	Ryan Grady
2016	Kenny Kasperbauer
2015	Event not held
2014	Event not held
2013	Event not held
2012	Gavin Ross
2011	Zachary Guay
2010	Ben Hefner
2009	Ben Hefner
2008	Ben Hefner
2007	Alden Keefe Sampson
2006	Robert Finlayson
2005	Robert Finlayson
2004	David Aldrich
2003	David Aldrich