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.
Winners
| YEAR | AWARDED TO |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Weston Hester, Unattached |
| 2022 | Weston Hester, Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team |
| 2021 | Weston Hester, Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team |
| 2020 | Not Awarded due to Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2019 | Edward Surles, Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2018 | Edward Surles, Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2017 | Ryan Grady, Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team |
| 2016 | Kenny Kasperbauer, Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team |
| 2015 | Event not held |
| 2014 | Event not held |
| 2013 | Event not held |
| 2012 | Gavin Ross, Washington Canoe Club |
| 2011 | Zachary Guay, Seattle Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2010 | Ben Hefner, Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2009 | Ben Hefner, Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2008 | Ben Hefner, Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2007 | Alden Keefe Sampson, Seattle Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2006 | Robert Finlayson, Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2005 | Robert Finlayson, Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club |
| 2004 | David Aldrich, San Diego Canoe & Kayak Team |
| 2003 | David Aldrich, San Diego Canoe & Kayak Team |