Ligety and Hendrickson Up for State of Sport Awards

PARK CITY, UT (March 21) – A U.S. Ski Team event and two athletes will be highlighted in the third annual Governor's State of Sport Awards on April 22, hosted by the Utah Sports Commission and presented by Zions Bank. The first-ever U.S. Olympic Team Trials for women’s ski jumping is nominated as Event of the Year while Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, UT) and Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) are nominated as Pro/Olympian Athletes of the Year for their record-setting performances in 2013. Winner are selected through fan voting on the State of Sport website. Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert will present awards along with golf legend, designer and philanthropist Jack Nicklaus on Tuesday, April 22, from 7 - 9:30 p.m., at EnergySolutions Arena. A special homecoming tribute will honor Utah's Olympians and Paralympians for their impact on the Sochi Winter Games.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A U.S. Ski Team event and two athletes will be highlighted in the third annual Governor's State of Sport Awards on April 22.
• The Olympic Trials event, held Dec. 29, 2013, at Utah Olympic Park, saw crowds that neared 8,000, while countless more watched via live television on NBC. The event highlighted the U.S. team’s success in achieving Olympic status after an inspiring and decade-long international push. Women competed in ski jumping for the first time in Olympic history at the 2014 Sochi Games. Jessica Jerome won the event.
• The Governor's State of Sport Awards recognize key sports people and partners who have been instrumental in helping to build Utah's sports industry. Fans can vote here. 
• Ligety was nominated as Pro/Olympian Male Athlete of the Year for his record-breaking 2013 World Championships performance in Schladming, Austria, where he became the first man to take home three gold medals since 1978. He also took home six giant slalom wins throughout the season on his way to earning yet another Audi FIS World Cup title in giant slalom.
• Hendrickson was nominated as Pro/Olympian Female Athlete of the Year for her 2013 World Championship win in Val di Fiemme, Italy, and for her great comeback to make the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team after a devastating knee injury last August.
• Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert will provide remarks and present awards along with golf legend, designer and philanthropist Jack Nicklaus, who will be speaking to those in attendance at the awards dinner on Tuesday, April 22, from 7 - 9:30 p.m., at EnergySolutions Arena. The 10 category awards will be based on the 2013 calendar year achievements and include High School Female Athlete, High School Male Athlete, Collegiate Female Athlete, Collegiate Male Athlete, Pro/Olympian Female Athlete, Pro/Olympian Male Athlete, Team of the Year, Highlight of the Year, Game or Event of the Year and Coach of the Year. The nominees were selected by a committee comprised of members of the sports media and the community at large. In addition, a Lifetime Achievement in Sport award will be presented to two other golf legends, Johnny Miller and Billy Casper, for their contribution to sport in Utah. A special homecoming tribute will honor Utah's Olympians and Paralympians for their impact on the Sochi Winter Games.

QUOTES
Calum Clark, USSA Vice President, Events
It's a privilege to have the first-ever women's ski jumping Olympic Trials recognized by the State of Utah. Without the resources Utah has poured into keeping the 2002 Olympic legacy alive, events like this would not be possible. It is a great honor to be able to host incredible events like this in our own backyard.

Sarah Hendrickson
It's a huge honor to be recognized by the State of Utah. Since Utah kept the Olympic legacy alive from 2002, I was able to train on some of the best facilities in the world. I am privileged to be raised in Utah, and I love that people recognize my hard work and dedication to sport.