Lindsey Vonn, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail’s two-time FIS World Cup overall champion and double World Championships gold medalist, has been nominated for world sportswoman of the year, to be named at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
The Laureus World Sports Academy annually honors the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen across all sports.
Vonn’s nomination stems from a historic season in which she produced one of the most successful winters in international ski racing history.
Other nominees are Venus Williams (United States, tennis); Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia, distance running); Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia, pole vault); Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, golf); and Stephanie Rice (Australia, swimming).
Fun Runs for kids.
The Colfax Marathon is inviting kids to take part by participating in the Colorado Kids Fun Runs on May 16. Race distances range from a quarter-mile (ages 4-5), half-mile (all ages), marathon mile (all ages who have completed the incremental training program) and the Family Fun Walk/Run around City Park Lake (open to everyone).
Register at Denver’s City Park Pavilion at 8 a.m. for Fun Runs beginning at 10 a.m. Kids Day activities include art activities, a rock concert, break dancers and a special appearance by tight end Daniel Graham of the Broncos.
To register for the incremental training program or to learn more, send an e-mail to kra@kidsrunningamerica.org or visit .
Hall of Fame finalists.
Paralympic skiing champions Greg Mannino of Eagle and Sarah Will of Vail are among 15 final candidates potentially named to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009. Olympic champion Picabo Street of Park City, Utah, is the only other skier under consideration. Phil Mahre and adaptive legend Diana Golden-Brosnihan are the only skiing inductees in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, established in 1983.
Will, paralyzed from the waist down in a 1988 skiing accident, won 12 Paralympic gold medals and one silver after taking up mono-skiing in 1989. She is the most decorated women’s mono-skier in U.S. history.
Five-time Paralympian Mannino won six gold, four silver and two bronze Paralympic medals in his career. An electrical accident at age 17 resulted in the amputation of his left leg above the knee.
Fans can cast their votes for the 2009 class online until June 16 at .
