The United States Sports Academy is pleased to announce online voting is open for its Athlete of the Month ballot for the month of April, featuring 12 candidates from nine countries who made an impact in their sport during the month.
Everyone is encouraged to cast a vote. Voting will continue until 5 p.m. Central time on Thursday, 13 May 2021.
Male nominees are Ronald Acuña, baseball, Venezuela; Jared Butler, basketball, United States; Stephen Curry, basketball, United States; Brad Marchand, hockey, Canada; Hideki Matsuyama, golf, Japan; and Stafanos Tsitsipas, tennis, Greece.
Female nominees are Ashleigh Barty, tennis, Australia; Ruth Chepngetich, athletics, Kenya; Haley Jones, basketball, United States; Jade Jones, taekwondo, Great Britain; Madison Lilley, volleyball, United States; and Patty Tavatanakit, golf, Thailand.
Each month, the public is invited to participate in the Academy’s worldwide Athlete of the Month program by nominating athletes and then voting online during the first week of every month. The online votes are used to guide the Academy selection committee in choosing the male and female monthly winners, who then become eligible for selection to the prestigious Athlete of the Year ballot. A worldwide public vote on the annual ballot is used to guide the committee in making the final selection.
The Athlete of the Year Award is part of the United States Sports Academy’s Awards of Sport program, which each year serves as “A Tribute to the Artist and the Athlete.” The Academy presents the awards to pay tribute to those who have made significant contributions to sport, in categories as diverse as the artist and the athlete in several different arenas of sport. The Academy’s American Sport Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA) annually recognizes these men and women through its Sport Artist of the Year, Honorary Doctorates, Distinguished Service Awards, Outstanding Athletes, and Alumni of the Year awards. This is the 37th year of the Academy’s Awards of Sport program.
For me, the male athlete is Stephen Curry, basketball, United States! One of the best in the game right now. No question.
For the female athletes, I think Jade Jones is worthy of this award. I’ve seen her compete in the arena and she’s one tough athlete.