Vote BadgeWorldwide online voting is now open for the United States Sports Academy’s October Athlete of the Month ballot, featuring 12 candidates from eight countries who made an impact in their sport during the month.

Everyone is encouraged to cast a vote on the Academy’s website at www.ussa.edu. Voting will continue until 5 p.m. Central time on Thursday, 11 November 2021.

Male nominees are Bashir Abdi, marathon, Belgium; Jordan Burroughs, wrestling, United States; Kyle Chalmers, swimming, Australia; Tyson Fury, boxing, England; Benson Kipruto, marathon, Kenya; and Tom Shields, swimming, United States.

Female nominees are Dina Averina, rhythmic gymnastics, Russia; Kahleah Copper, basketball, United States; Kalkidan Gezahegne, athletics, Bahrain; Letesenbet Gidey, athletics, Ethiopia; Diana Kipyokei, marathon, Kenya; and Helen Maroulis, wrestling, United States.

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.