Three Olympians Nominated for Best Action Sports Athletes; Surfing and Motocross Champions Named as Nominees

Eight of the top performers from the X Games and Winter X Games are nominated for the 18th annual ESPYs, which will be televised live, for the first time since 2003, Wednesday, July 14, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPNHD. The 2010 ESPYs co-presented by Capital One and Castrol EDGE and hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers release the nominees for Best Male Action Sport Athlete and Best Female Action Sport Athlete categories.

The ESPY nominees for Best Action Sport Athlete:

BEST MALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE NOMINEES

Bobby Brown, Freestyle Skiing

The only skier to win two gold medals at the same Winter X Games, Bobby Brown won Ski Slopestyle and Ski Big Air at the Winter X Games in January 2010. The first athlete to land the switch double misty 1440, the trick earned him the first-ever perfect score in the Ski Big Air contest. Brown continued his domination by winning the next Dew Tour stop and earning a silver medal at Winter X Games Europe.

Ryan Dungey, Motocross

Enjoying a breakout season in 2009, Ryan Dungey was both the AMA Motocross 250 Class season points champion and the 2010 AMA Supercross champion. To top off a great season, Dungey led Team USA to its fifth straight victory at the Motocross of Nations and was named 2009 Rider of the Year by Transworld Motocross and Racer X Illustrated.

Mick Fanning, Surfing

The first Australian to beat Kelly Slater out for the ASP World Title, Mick Fanning put together one of the most impressive competitive seasons of all time to win the 2007 title. Two years later, Fanning pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in surfing history to battle back from the middle of the pack to win his second ASP World Title.

Garrett Reynolds, BMX Freestyle

Winning his first X Games gold medal at the debut of BMX Freestyle Street at X Games 14, Garrett Reynolds hasn’t slowed down at all. With international X Games wins in Mexico, Brazil and Dubai, Reynolds was named the NORA Cup Street Rider of the Year in 2008 and 2009. He will attempt a three-peat at X Games 16.

Shaun White, Skateboarding & Snowboarding

In a banner season for White, the defending Winter X Games Snowboard SuperPipe and 2006 Winter Olympic gold medalist successfully defended both titles, becoming the only Winter X Games athlete to three-peat in Snowboard SuperPipe and the only Winter Olympic athlete to win back-to-back halfpipe gold.

BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE NOMINEES

Torah Bright, Snowboarding

Australia’s golden girl, Torah Bright has become one of the most recognizable female snowboarders. Awarded the highest score ever given to a Winter X SuperPipe female at Winter X Games 13, Bright went on to add Winter Olympic gold medalist to her title in 2010.

Ashley Fiolek, Motocross

Already one of the most successful female motocross riders in just her third season as a professional racer, Ashley Fiolek has been a force behind advancing the level and prestige of women’s racing in the United States. The defending X Games Super X Women’s gold medalist, Fiolek is also the two-time and defending Women’s Motocross Champion.

Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing

One of the most talented female surfers on the ASP Tour, Stephanie Gilmore wrapped up the 2009 season with her third straight Women’s ASP World Tour title. This season, she is on track to continue her success, winning three of four events so far.

Jen Hudak, Freestyle Skiing

Not only did Jen Hudak earn her first Winter X Games gold medal in the Ski SuperPipe competition in Aspen, Colo. and her first gold at the inaugural Winter X Games Europe, she finished on top of the AFP World Tour.

Ashleigh McIvor, Freestyle Skiing

In the first year ski cross was featured in the Winter Olympics, Ashleigh McIvor went down in the history books as the very first Women’s Ski Cross Olympic gold medalist. She also achieved a first at Winter X Games 14, earning her first Winter X Games Skier X medal (silver).

For the third time in several years, a limited amount of ESPYs tickets are available for public purchase through www.ticketmaster.com. Fans will determine the winners in 37 categories (except the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards) by voting online at www.espys.tv, for the first time, at www.facebook.com/ESPN through July 10.

The ESPYs

The ESPYs gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances. The 2010 ESPYs will recognize both sport-specific achievements, such as “Best MLB Player” and “Best WNBA Player,” and best-in-sport winners, such as “Best Team” or “Best Female Athlete” that pit nominees from different sports against each other. The ESPYs honor ESPN’s commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a partnership launched with the late Jim Valvano at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993.

X Games 16

The 16th annual action sports competition will feature more than 300 of the world’s best athletes who will compete in BMX Freestyle, Moto X, Skateboard and Rally Car. Tickets for X Games 16 are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and venue box offices. Thirty-one hours of live programming on ESPN and ESPN2 will be offered July 29-August 1. X Games 16 coverage will also be delivered on ESPN International, ESPN Classic, ESPN3D, ESPN.com/action, ESPN3.com and X Center.

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Contacts:

ESPN X Games Athlete Relations – Katie Moses Swope, 310-642-1507; [email protected]

ESPN X Games Athlete Relations – Crystal Yang, 310-642-1550; [email protected]

ESPYs – Alison Lazar, 212-448-4804, [email protected]