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| presenter = [[ESPN]]
| presenter = [[ESPN]]
| country =
| country =
| location = The Rooftop at Pier 17, [[New York City]] ([[2021 ESPY Awards|2021]])<ref name=latest>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/31645146/actor-producer-anthony-mackie-named-host-2021-espys |title=Actor-producer Anthony Mackie named host of the 2021 ESPYS |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=June 16, 2021 |access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref>
| location = [[Dolby Theatre]], [[Los Angeles]] ([[2024 ESPY Awards|2024]])<ref name=latest>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/31645146/actor-producer-anthony-mackie-named-host-2021-espys |title=Actor-producer Anthony Mackie named host of the 2021 ESPYS |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=June 16, 2021 |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617001814/https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/31645146/actor-producer-anthony-mackie-named-host-2021-espys |url-status=live }}</ref>
| year = 1993
| year = 1993
| holder = [[Vitali Klitschko]]
| holder = [[Steve Gleason]]
| website = {{official website|https://espn.com/espys/}}
| website = {{official website|https://espn.com/espys/}}
}}
}}
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The award has not been without controversy: in June 2015, ESPN's announcement of [[Caitlyn Jenner]] as the recipient of that year's Arthur Ashe Courage Award led to significant criticism among online commenters and some members of the media,<ref name=Falzone>{{cite news|first=Diana|last=Falzone|author-link=Diana Falzone|title=Anger over Caitlyn Jenner being chosen over Lauren Hill for ESPY courage award|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/03/anger-over-caitlyn-jenner-being-chosen-over-lauren-hill-for-espy-courage-award/|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=June 3, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611044159/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/03/anger-over-caitlyn-jenner-being-chosen-over-lauren-hill-for-espy-courage-award/|archive-date=June 11, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> with [[Bob Costas]] calling the decision to give Jenner the award a "crass exploitation play".<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Costas slams ESPN over Caitlyn Jenner ESPY courage award|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/10/bob-costas-slams-espn-over-caitlyn-jenner-espy.html|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=June 10, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611004407/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/10/bob-costas-slams-espn-over-caitlyn-jenner-espy/|archive-date=June 11, 2015}}</ref> Many critics of the Jenner award considered [[Lauren Hill (basketball)|Lauren Hill]], who [[2014 Hiram vs. Mount St. Joseph women's basketball game|played college basketball]] despite suffering from a [[diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma|brain tumor]] that would claim her life only a few months later, a more worthy recipient. Others cited [[Noah Galloway]], an [[Iraq War]] double amputee who competes in extreme sports and was also a finalist in the [[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 20)|20th season]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' in 2015, as a worthy candidate.<ref>{{cite news|first=Justin Wm.|last=Moyer|author-link=Justin Moyer|title=Why some critics don't think Caitlyn Jenner deserved the Arthur Ashe Courage Award|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/16/why-some-critics-dont-think-caitlyn-jenner-deserved-the-arthur-ashe-courage-award/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=16 June 2015|access-date=23 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005752/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/16/why-some-critics-dont-think-caitlyn-jenner-deserved-the-arthur-ashe-courage-award/|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Chuck|last=Schilken|title=Caitlyn Jenner, Noah Galloway or Lauren Hill: Who should get the ESPY?|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-caitlyn-jenner-espys-backlash-20150604-htmlstory.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=4 June 2015|access-date=23 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005802/http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-caitlyn-jenner-espys-backlash-20150604-htmlstory.html|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Diane|last=Falzone|title=ESPN criticized for rewarding Caitlyn Jenner over cancer-fighting hoopster|url=https://nypost.com/2015/06/03/espn-criticized-for-rewarding-caitlyn-jenner-over-cancer-fighting-hoopster/|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|date=June 3, 2015|access-date=January 23, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005741/https://nypost.com/2015/06/03/espn-criticized-for-rewarding-caitlyn-jenner-over-cancer-fighting-hoopster/|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>
The award has not been without controversy: in June 2015, ESPN's announcement of [[Caitlyn Jenner]] as the recipient of that year's Arthur Ashe Courage Award led to significant criticism among online commenters and some members of the media,<ref name=Falzone>{{cite news|first=Diana|last=Falzone|author-link=Diana Falzone|title=Anger over Caitlyn Jenner being chosen over Lauren Hill for ESPY courage award|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/03/anger-over-caitlyn-jenner-being-chosen-over-lauren-hill-for-espy-courage-award/|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=June 3, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611044159/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/03/anger-over-caitlyn-jenner-being-chosen-over-lauren-hill-for-espy-courage-award/|archive-date=June 11, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> with [[Bob Costas]] calling the decision to give Jenner the award a "crass exploitation play".<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Costas slams ESPN over Caitlyn Jenner ESPY courage award|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/10/bob-costas-slams-espn-over-caitlyn-jenner-espy.html|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=June 10, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611004407/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/10/bob-costas-slams-espn-over-caitlyn-jenner-espy/|archive-date=June 11, 2015}}</ref> Many critics of the Jenner award considered [[Lauren Hill (basketball)|Lauren Hill]], who [[2014 Hiram vs. Mount St. Joseph women's basketball game|played college basketball]] despite suffering from a [[diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma|brain tumor]] that would claim her life only a few months later, a more worthy recipient. Others cited [[Noah Galloway]], an [[Iraq War]] double amputee who competes in extreme sports and was also a finalist in the [[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 20)|20th season]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]'' in 2015, as a worthy candidate.<ref>{{cite news|first=Justin Wm.|last=Moyer|author-link=Justin Moyer|title=Why some critics don't think Caitlyn Jenner deserved the Arthur Ashe Courage Award|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/16/why-some-critics-dont-think-caitlyn-jenner-deserved-the-arthur-ashe-courage-award/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=16 June 2015|access-date=23 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005752/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/16/why-some-critics-dont-think-caitlyn-jenner-deserved-the-arthur-ashe-courage-award/|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Chuck|last=Schilken|title=Caitlyn Jenner, Noah Galloway or Lauren Hill: Who should get the ESPY?|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-caitlyn-jenner-espys-backlash-20150604-htmlstory.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=4 June 2015|access-date=23 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005802/http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-caitlyn-jenner-espys-backlash-20150604-htmlstory.html|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Diane|last=Falzone|title=ESPN criticized for rewarding Caitlyn Jenner over cancer-fighting hoopster|url=https://nypost.com/2015/06/03/espn-criticized-for-rewarding-caitlyn-jenner-over-cancer-fighting-hoopster/|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|date=June 3, 2015|access-date=January 23, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005741/https://nypost.com/2015/06/03/espn-criticized-for-rewarding-caitlyn-jenner-over-cancer-fighting-hoopster/|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>


The 2022 recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award was [[Vitali Klitschko]].
The 2024 recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award was [[Steve Gleason]].


==Recipients==
==Recipients==
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| 2000
| 2000
| -
| -
! scope=row | {{sortname|William David|Sanders}}{{dagger}}
! scope=row | {{sortname|William David|Sanders|}}{{dagger}}
| align=left | High school sports coach killed defending students during the [[Columbine High School massacre]]
| align=left | High school sports coach killed defending students during the [[Columbine High School massacre]]
| <ref name=posth>{{cite news|first=Marissa|last=Payne|title=ESPYs to honor Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver with posthumous courage award|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/06/06/espys-to-honor-special-olympics-founder-eunice-kennedy-shriver-with-posthumous-courage-award/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107144708/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/06/06/espys-to-honor-special-olympics-founder-eunice-kennedy-shriver-with-posthumous-courage-award/|archive-date = November 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Miller|title=Coach remembered on anniversary of Columbine tragedy|url=http://www.espn.com/highschool/rise/news/story?id=4080590|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=April 19, 2009|access-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107144708/http://www.espn.com/highschool/rise/news/story?id=4080590|archive-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| <ref name=posth>{{cite news|first=Marissa|last=Payne|title=ESPYs to honor Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver with posthumous courage award|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/06/06/espys-to-honor-special-olympics-founder-eunice-kennedy-shriver-with-posthumous-courage-award/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107144708/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/06/06/espys-to-honor-special-olympics-founder-eunice-kennedy-shriver-with-posthumous-courage-award/|archive-date = November 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Miller|title=Coach remembered on anniversary of Columbine tragedy|url=http://www.espn.com/highschool/rise/news/story?id=4080590|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=April 19, 2009|access-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107144708/http://www.espn.com/highschool/rise/news/story?id=4080590|archive-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
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! scope=row | Survivors of the [[USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal]]<br />''(The [[Fierce Five]] pictured)''
! scope=row | Survivors of the [[USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal]]<br />''(The [[Fierce Five]] pictured)''
| align=left | Over 300 girls and women, mostly gymnasts, including but not limited to [[Rachael Denhollander]], [[Simone Biles]], [[McKayla Maroney]], [[Aly Raisman]], [[Jordyn Wieber]], [[Gabby Douglas]], and [[Maggie Nichols (gymnast)|Maggie Nichols]], who survived the abuse of [[Larry Nassar]], spoke out about and shined a light on sexual abuse in sports, and demanded change and accountability
| align=left | Over 300 girls and women, mostly gymnasts, including but not limited to [[Rachael Denhollander]], [[Simone Biles]], [[McKayla Maroney]], [[Aly Raisman]], [[Jordyn Wieber]], [[Gabby Douglas]], and [[Maggie Nichols (gymnast)|Maggie Nichols]], who survived the abuse of [[Larry Nassar]], spoke out about and shined a light on sexual abuse in sports, and demanded change and accountability
| <ref name=win18>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2018/05/16/larry-nassar-victims-arthur-ashe-award-espy|title=Larry Nassar Sexual Assault Survivors to Receive Arthur Ashe Award For Courage At ESPYs|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=May 16, 2018}}</ref>
| <ref name=win18>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2018/05/16/larry-nassar-victims-arthur-ashe-award-espy|title=Larry Nassar Sexual Assault Survivors to Receive Arthur Ashe Award For Courage At ESPYs|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=May 16, 2018|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041450/https://www.si.com/olympics/2018/05/16/larry-nassar-victims-arthur-ashe-award-espy|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2019
| 2019
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! scope=row | {{sortname|Bill|Russell}}
! scope=row | {{sortname|Bill|Russell}}
| align=left | First African American coach in NBA history, a role he held while also continuing to play
| align=left | First African American coach in NBA history, a role he held while also continuing to play
| <ref name=win19>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2019/05/30/bill-russell-will-receive-the-2019-arthur-ashe-courage-award-at-the-espys|title=Bill Russell will receive the 2019 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs|work=[[Boston.com]]|date=May 30, 2019}}</ref>
| <ref name=win19>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2019/05/30/bill-russell-will-receive-the-2019-arthur-ashe-courage-award-at-the-espys|title=Bill Russell will receive the 2019 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs|work=[[Boston.com]]|date=May 30, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019|archive-date=May 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530200613/https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2019/05/30/bill-russell-will-receive-the-2019-arthur-ashe-courage-award-at-the-espys|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2020
| 2020
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! scope=row | {{sortname|Kevin|Love}}
! scope=row | {{sortname|Kevin|Love}}
| align=left | Advocacy for and openness about mental health
| align=left | Advocacy for and openness about mental health
| <ref name=win20>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/sports/2020-espy-winners-already-announced/|title=All the 2020 ESPY Winners That Have Been Announced, Including Kevin Love and Boxer Kim Clavel|work=[[People.com]]|date=June 18, 2020}}</ref>
| <ref name=win20>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/sports/2020-espy-winners-already-announced/|title=All the 2020 ESPY Winners That Have Been Announced, Including Kevin Love and Boxer Kim Clavel|work=[[People.com]]|date=June 18, 2020|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=June 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619132721/https://people.com/sports/2020-espy-winners-already-announced/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2021
| 2021
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! scope=row | {{sortname|Maya|Moore}}
! scope=row | {{sortname|Maya|Moore}}
| align=left | Walked away from basketball to help free a wrongfully convicted man.
| align=left | Walked away from basketball to help free a wrongfully convicted man.
| <ref name=win21>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/31725790/wnba-legend-maya-moore-presented-arthur-ashe-courage-award-2021-espys|title=WNBA legend Maya Moore to be presented with Arthur Ashe Courage Award at 2021 ESPYS|work=[[ESPN]].com|date=June 28, 2021}}</ref>
| <ref name=win21>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/31725790/wnba-legend-maya-moore-presented-arthur-ashe-courage-award-2021-espys|title=WNBA legend Maya Moore to be presented with Arthur Ashe Courage Award at 2021 ESPYS|work=[[ESPN]].com|date=June 28, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2021|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628180520/https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/31725790/wnba-legend-maya-moore-presented-arthur-ashe-courage-award-2021-espys|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2022
| 2022
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! scope=row | {{sortname|Vitali|Klitschko}}
! scope=row | {{sortname|Vitali|Klitschko}}
| align=left | Showed great courage and bravery by defending Ukraine as a soldier along with his brother [[Wladimir Klitschko]] and was vocally critical of [[Vladimir Putin]], using his position of mayor (longest serving mayor of Kyiv) to do so.
| align=left | Showed great courage and bravery by defending Ukraine as a soldier along with his brother [[Wladimir Klitschko]] and was vocally critical of [[Vladimir Putin]], using his position of mayor (longest serving mayor of Kyiv) to do so.
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kyiv-mayor-vitali-klitschko-espy_n_62d8e619e4b000da23fbd8fa|title=Kyiv Mayor And Boxer Vitali Klitschko Wins ESPY's Arthur Ashe Award For Courage|work=huffpost.com|date=July 21, 2022 }}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kyiv-mayor-vitali-klitschko-espy_n_62d8e619e4b000da23fbd8fa|title=Kyiv Mayor And Boxer Vitali Klitschko Wins ESPY's Arthur Ashe Award For Courage|work=huffpost.com|date=July 21, 2022|access-date=August 12, 2022|archive-date=July 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721101156/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kyiv-mayor-vitali-klitschko-espy_n_62d8e619e4b000da23fbd8fa|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2023
| 2023
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! scope=row | [[United States women's national soccer team]]
! scope=row | [[United States women's national soccer team]]
| align=left | Fought for equal pay.
| align=left | Fought for equal pay.
| <ref>{{cite web |title=USWNT to receive Arthur Ashe Award at ESPYS for equal pay fight |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37927656/uswnt-receive-arthur-ashe-award-espys-equal-pay-fight |website=ESPN |access-date=June 28, 2023 |date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web |title=USWNT to receive Arthur Ashe Award at ESPYS for equal pay fight |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37927656/uswnt-receive-arthur-ashe-award-espys-equal-pay-fight |website=ESPN |access-date=June 28, 2023 |date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628153332/https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37927656/uswnt-receive-arthur-ashe-award-espys-equal-pay-fight |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2024
| [[File:Steve Gleason 2020.jpg|100px|alt=Gleason in 2020]]
! scope=row | {{sortname|Steve|Gleason}}
| align=left | Advocacy for [[ALS]].
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40444125/steve-gleason-receive-arthur-ashe-award-2024-espys |title=Steve Gleason to receive Arthur Ashe Courage Award at 2024 ESPYS |website=ESPN.com |first=Katherine |last=Terrell |date=June 27, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>
|}
|}



Revision as of 19:57, 23 August 2024

Arthur Ashe Courage Award
Awarded for"reflect[ing] the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs"[1]
LocationDolby Theatre, Los Angeles (2024)[2]
Presented byESPN
First awarded1993
Currently held bySteve Gleason
WebsiteOfficial website

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award (sometimes called the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage or Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award) is presented as part of the ESPY Awards. It is named for the American tennis player Arthur Ashe. Although it is a sport-oriented award, it is not limited to sports-related people or actions, as it is presented annually to individuals whose contributions "transcend sports".[3] According to ESPN, the organization responsible for giving out the award, "recipients reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost".[1] The award was presented as part of the ESPY Awards ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles from 2008 to 2019.[4] The 2020 ESPYs ceremony was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Ashe Award being one of the few awards presented, and the 2021 ceremony was held in New York City.

The inaugural award, made at the 1993 ESPY Awards, was presented to the American college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster Jim Valvano.[5][6] In 1993, ESPN partnered with Valvano to create the V Foundation which presents the annual Jimmy V Award to "a deserving member of the sporting world who has overcome great obstacles through perseverance and determination."[7][8] Suffering from cancer, Valvano gave the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage Award acceptance speech which "brought a howling, teary-eyed Madison Square Garden to its feet".[9] Valvano died two months after receiving the award.[9] Although the award is usually given to individuals, it has been presented to multiple recipients on seven occasions: former athletes on United Airlines Flight 93 (2002), Pat and Kevin Tillman (2003), Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah and Jim MacLaren (2005), Roia Ahmad and Shamila Kohestani (2006), Trevor Ringland and David Cullen (2007), and Tommie Smith, John Carlos (2008), and survivors of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal (2018). The accolade has been presented posthumously on five occasions.

The award has not been without controversy: in June 2015, ESPN's announcement of Caitlyn Jenner as the recipient of that year's Arthur Ashe Courage Award led to significant criticism among online commenters and some members of the media,[10] with Bob Costas calling the decision to give Jenner the award a "crass exploitation play".[11] Many critics of the Jenner award considered Lauren Hill, who played college basketball despite suffering from a brain tumor that would claim her life only a few months later, a more worthy recipient. Others cited Noah Galloway, an Iraq War double amputee who competes in extreme sports and was also a finalist in the 20th season of Dancing with the Stars in 2015, as a worthy candidate.[12][13][14]

The 2024 recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award was Steve Gleason.

Recipients

Key
Indicates posthumous award
Arthur Ashe Courage Award recipients
Year Image Recipient(s) Notes Ref(s)
1993 Jim Valvano Jim Valvano American college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster, died from adenocarcinoma [6]
1994 Steve Palermo Major League Baseball umpire paralysed from the waist down after attempting to prevent a mugging [15]
1995 Howard Cosell in 1975 Howard Cosell Journalist, creator of ABC SportsBeat, the first serious investigative sports journalist program [16]
1996 Loretta Claiborne Multi-sports Special Olympics athlete [17]
1997 Muhammad Ali in 2006 Muhammad Ali Boxer, an example of racial pride for African Americans and resistance to white domination during the civil rights movement. [6]
1998 Dean Smith in 2007 Dean Smith College basketball coach for 36 years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [18]
1999 Billie Jean King in 2016 Billie Jean King Tennis player, campaigned for equal prize money in both men's and women's tennis [19]
2000 - William David Sanders High school sports coach killed defending students during the Columbine High School massacre [20][21]
2001 Cathy Freeman in 2008 Cathy Freeman Track and field athlete, first Indigenous Australian person to become an Olympic Games gold medallist [22]
2002 Flight 93 National Memorial Todd Beamer
Mark Bingham
Tom Burnett
Jeremy Glick
Athletes onboard United Airlines Flight 93 (National Memorial pictured) who tried to reclaim control from the hijackers [20]
2003 Pat Tillman in 2003 Pat Tillman (pictured)
Kevin Tillman
Pat was an American football player who played for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL, his brother Kevin a Minor League Baseball player; both enlisted, forgoing their sporting careers [20][23]
2004 George Weah in 2019 George Weah Association footballer who became a UN Goodwill Ambassador [24]
2005 Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
Jim MacLaren
Yeboah brought attention to disabled people in Ghana, himself with a deformed leg, by cycling across the country. McLaren became a successful triathlete after having his leg amputated. [25]
2006 Roia Ahmad
Shamila Kohestani
Championing girls' and women's sport, specifically the Afghan women's association football team [26]
2007 David Cullen in 2008 Trevor Ringland
David Cullen (pictured)
Members of PeacePlayers International which uses basketball to unite and educate children [27]
2008 Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968 Tommie Smith
John Carlos
Olympic track athletes, medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics, who gave the Black Power salute on the podium [28]
2009 Nelson Mandela in 2008 Nelson Mandela South African President, his presentation of the 1995 Rugby World Cup to Francois Pienaar was described as "an iconic moment in sports history" [29]
2010 Edward Arthur Thomas High school American football coach, shot and killed by a former student [20]
2011 Dewey Bozella Boxer, wrongly imprisoned for 26 years [30]
2012 Pat Summit in 2008 Pat Summitt College basketball coach with, as of 2018, the most wins in NCAA basketball history, retired with early-onset Alzheimer's disease [31]
2013 Robin Roberts in 2010 Robin Roberts Broadcaster, increased awareness in bone marrow donation through public coverage of her own illness [32]
2014 Michael Sam in 2008 Michael Sam American football player, first publicly gay player to be drafted in the NFL [6]
2015 Caitlyn Jenner in 2015 Caitlyn Jenner Former Olympic track and field athlete and transgender television personality [33]
2016 Zaevion Dobson Fifteen-year-old American football player who used his body to shield three girls from a drive-by shooting [20]
2017 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Eunice Kennedy Shriver Founder of the Special Olympics [6]
2018 The Fierce Five in 2012 Survivors of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal
(The Fierce Five pictured)
Over 300 girls and women, mostly gymnasts, including but not limited to Rachael Denhollander, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, and Maggie Nichols, who survived the abuse of Larry Nassar, spoke out about and shined a light on sexual abuse in sports, and demanded change and accountability [34]
2019 Bill Russell Bill Russell First African American coach in NBA history, a role he held while also continuing to play [35]
2020 Kevin Love Kevin Love Advocacy for and openness about mental health [36]
2021 Maya Moore Maya Moore Walked away from basketball to help free a wrongfully convicted man. [37]
2022 Vitali Klitschko Vitali Klitschko Showed great courage and bravery by defending Ukraine as a soldier along with his brother Wladimir Klitschko and was vocally critical of Vladimir Putin, using his position of mayor (longest serving mayor of Kyiv) to do so. [38]
2023 USWNST in 2023 United States women's national soccer team Fought for equal pay. [39]
2024 Gleason in 2020 Steve Gleason Advocacy for ALS. [40]

See also

References

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