X Games Legend Travis Pastrana Nominated in Two Categories; Motocross Superstar Ricky Carmichael Nominated for Best Male Action Sports Athlete for a Fourth Time
LOS ANGELES – Ten of the top performers from the X Games and Winter X Games are nominated for the15th annual ESPYs from Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre which will be televised on Sunday, July 15 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. The stars of the X Games are nominated in the Best Male Action Sport Athlete and Best Female Action Sport Athlete categories.
Four-time ESPY nominee and motocross legend, Ricky Carmichael will be making his X Games debut this year. “Every year that I have been nominated for an ESPY, I come up just a little short to some great athlete that just won a gold medal at the X Games or the Olympics – not this time. Tell Lebron to get that thing shined up because I’m heading to the X Games for the first time this year and want to bring an ESPY with me!” said Carmichael – known as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time).
In addition to his Best Action Sport Athlete nomination, freestyle motocross rider Travis Pastrana is also up for Best Play Award for landing the first ever double backflip in competition during his run in Moto X Freestyle at X Games 12. The ESPY nominees for Best Action Sport Athlete are:
BEST MALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE NOMINEES Ricky Carmichael, Motocross Nine-time AMA Motocross Champion and five-time AMA Supercross Champion with 101 Career Outdoor National wins
Kelly Slater, Surfing
Two-time X Games Gold medalist
Travis Pastrana, Motocross
Eight-time X Games Gold medalist
Danny Way, Skateboarding
Four-time X Games Gold medalist
Andreas Wiig, Snowboarding
Two-time X Games Gold medalist
BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE NOMINEES Jamie Andersen, Snowboarding One-time X Games Gold medalist
Layne Beachley, Surfing
Seven-time Surfing World Champion
Torah Bright, Snowboarding
One-time X Games Gold medalist
Sarah Burke, Skiing
One-time X Games Gold medalist
Elissa Steamer, Skateboarding
Three-time X Games Gold medalist
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 2007 ESPYs co-presented by HUMMER and Under Armour will include both sport-specific awards such as Best MLB Player and Best WNBA Player and distinguishing “Best in Sport” awards, categories that pit different sports against each other, such as Best Team or Best Female Athlete. The ESPYs are committed to the advancement of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, established by ESPN with the late Jim Valvano and announced at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993.
