Liz Stephen © Linus Trygg

April 01, 2016 (Salt Lake City, UT) – The Governor’s State of Sport Awards committee has selected three U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) athletes to be honored at the 2016 Governor’s State of Sport Awards. U.S. Ski Team athletes Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), Kiley McKinnon (Madison, CT) and Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT) will all be recognized for their athletic achievements during the 2015 calendar year.

Liz Stephen (USA) © Angus Cockney

Hosted by the Utah Sports Commission and presented by Zions Bank, the awards are fan voted and honor excellence in high school, amateur, collegiate, Olympic and professional sports. The USSA partners with the Utah Sports Commission each year on the Utah Action Sports Tour, which includes the U.S. Grand Prix event at Park City Mountain Resort and the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort. The Governor’s State of Sport Awards will also recognize key sports people and partners who have been instrumental in helping to build Utah’s sports industry. This year’s event will feature United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun and Lifetime Achievement Award recipients James L. Easton and Vern Law.

Liz Stephen © Reese Brown

Ligety made history in 2015, winning his third straight gold medal in giant slalom at the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek. McKinnon also brought home a medal from World Championships, landing second in the aerials competition in Kreischberg, Austria. She capped her season with the women’s overall aerials title, the first for a U.S woman since 1998. Cross country athlete Stephen posted a fifth place finish in the seven-stage Tour de Ski and scored two World Cup podiums, including a second place in Russia that was one of the best distances results by an American woman in over 40 years.

Final podium (l-r) Stephen 2nd, Jacobsen 1st, Boehler 3rd © Nordic Focus

This year’s winners, chosen by sports fans, will be honored at the Governor’s State of Sport Awards event on Tuesday, May 10 at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Fans may vote once per day per web enabled device. Voting will conclude at midnight on Sunday, April 19th. Fans can visit www.stateofsportawards.com to cast their vote.

HIGHLIGHTS

• USSA athletes Ted Ligety, Kiley McKinnon and Liz Stephen will be honored at the 2016 Governor’s State of Sport Awards.
• Hosted by the Utah Sports Commission, the awards celebrate Utah’s sport community and honors excellence in high school, amateur, collegiate, Olympic and professional sports.
• Ligety, born and raised in Park City, UT, brought home his third consecutive gold medal in GS at the 2015 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships.
• McKinnon was the aerials silver medalist at the FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships and landed the 2015 women’s aerials overall World Cup title.
• Stephen skied to two World Cup podiums and a career-best fifth place finish in the Tour de Ski.
• The awards will take place on Tuesday, May 10 at Vivint Smart Home Arena
• The winners are chosen by fans. Fans can vote once per day at www.stateofsportawards.com