This past year has been a good one for Olympic swimmer Kylie Masse, both in and out of the pool.

Aquatics Canada has named the LaSalle native its 2017 Athlete of the Year. The body, which oversees national teams in swimming, diving, synchro and water polo, chose Masse as the top athlete among all four aquatic sports.

“Very proud of this incredible honour,” Masse said on Twitter, thanking Aquatics Canada for the recognition.

SwimSwam magazine Thursday named Masse the female breakout swimmer of the year. “Canadian backstroke star Kylie Masse has made huge strides over the past couple of seasons, but 2017 saw her make a major breakthrough,” the international magazine said.

Masse, 21, holds the world record for the 100-metre backstroke. She took gold at the 2017 World Aquatics Championship in Budapest this year, becoming the first Canadian woman in a decade to win a world championship in any swimming event.

The accomplishment comes after the University of Toronto student won bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Masse also holds the Canadian record in the 50- and 200-metre backstroke.

This week, the LaSalle native was also named the runner-up for Canadian Press’s female athlete of the year. Golfer Brooke Henderson took the top accolades.

And Chatelaine Magazine recently named Masse among 33 Canadian women who “rocked 2017.”

The magazine said Masse won the honour by “backstroking her way to world domination… breaking records and blowing minds.”

ssacheli@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/WinStarSacheli