Michelle
Sawatzky-Koop

Michelle Sawatzky-Koop was born in Steinbach, Manitoba in 1970. While attending Steinbach Regional Secondary School, Michelle really started to excel as an athlete, winning her school’s Athlete of the Year award in her senior year. 

After graduating in 1988, Michelle committed to playing volleyball for the University of Manitoba Bisons, where she instantly became their starting setter. She played there for five years until she graduated in 1993.

As a university player for the Manitoba Bisons, Michelle was a two-time CIS Championship MVP in 1990 and 1991, as well a two-time CIS player of the year for the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. Sawatzky was a part of the Bison's women's volleyball team that won three CIS championships in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Sawatzky graduated from the University of Manitoba School of Music in 1993 with a Bachelor of Music Piano Performance. She has also organized and participated in the annual Southeastern Manitoba Festival, which takes place in Steinbach.

In 1989, during her second season with the Bisons, Michelle also got the opportunity to represent Manitoba at the Canada Summer Games. There, she led her team to a bronze medal as the starting setter. The following year, Michelle got her first taste playing for the national team on the “B” squad and eventually, through hard work and determination, was selected to the Senior Women’s National Team where she was a member from 1993 to 1996. 

As the starting setter, she helped lead the team to a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan Am Games helping Canada qualify for the 1996 Olympics. At the Olympics, the team lost its first four matches with Michelle relegated to the bench for much of the round-robin. With the team now out of contention for a medal, Michelle was thrust back into a starting role for the final round-robin game against Peru. During this match, Michelle showed her quality, leading Canada to a 3-2 set win – the very first win ever at an Olympic Games in women’s volleyball.

After retiring from the national team, Michelle continued to work in volleyball, coaching at Steinbach and at the University of Manitoba.

Since 1997, Sawatzky has been a radio broadcaster and Morning Show co-host on CHSM, CFAM, and CJRB radio in southern Manitoba. Michelle is a co-founder of Heroes in our Midst podcast. Michelle Sawatzky-Koop teaches people who dare to dream that they can overcome life’s obstacles.

Michelle relates her inspiring story of growing up in Canada and against the odds achieving her dream of making it to the Olympics on the Canadian National Team. She was constantly being underestimated by coaches and team members because of her relatively short stature as a volleyball player.

But her love of the game and her determination to practice, train, and work hard toward her dream allowed her to navigate the obstacles.

We are honoured today to induct Michelle Sawatzy-Koop as an athlete in the Volleyball Canada Hall of Fame; she is most certainly deserving of this recognition for her years competing for Canada and for her remarkable career as an athlete and a positive role model.