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Canadian Ski Cross racer Ashleigh McIvor nominated for ESPY

Monday, 05 July 2010 09:41

CALGARY, AB (July 5, 2010) - Ashleigh McIvor (Whistler, BC), who became the first ever women's Olympic ski cross champion during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games last February, has been nominated for an ESPY Award and her supporters hold the key to a potential victory.

McIvor, also a World Champion and X-Games medalist, is nominated in the Best Female Action Sport Athlete category for the annual sport awards created by American cable television network ESPN. The winner in McIvor's category and several others are selected via fan vote prior to the July 14 awards show.

"It's a real honour to receive this recognition," said the 26-year-old McIvor. "It allows me a little time to reflect on a pretty amazing year, with a medal at the X-Games and the Olympic gold. This is a huge honour and great exposure for a young sport that I love."

McIvor won gold in the first women's Olympic ski cross competition by dominating the final race of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games on February 23, 2010 at Cypress Mountain, a ski area she had become familiar with in her youth while growing up in Whistler. She also won gold at the Winter X-Games in Aspen, USA in January and played a key role in the Canada Ski Cross team winning the overall Nation's Cup title last season.

Her competition for the Best Female Action Sport Athlete ESPY is Torah Bright (Snowboarding), Ashley Fiolek (Motocross), Jen Hudak (Freestyle Skiing) and Stephanie Gilmore (Surfing).

To cast a ballot online go to espn.go.com/espys or on the ESPN Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ESPN.

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