East Meadow, NY – Olympic champion ski racer Lindsey Vonn and Paralympic double gold medalist skier Alana Nichols are nominated for the prestigious 2010 Sportswoman of the Year honor, presented by the Women’s Sports Foundation.nThe winner is determined entirely by online popular vote, which may be cast at www.womenssportsfoundation.org. Voting ends at midnight this Tuesday.
Vonn, whose record shattering 2010 season included the Olympic gold medal for downhill and a bronze in super G. In addition, the Vail, Colo. resident rolled to an American record 11 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup victories en route to her third consecutive overall and downhill titles, in addition to the super G and super combined crystal globes.
Earlier this summer, Vonn roped ESPY awards as Female Athlete of the Year and Female Olympic Athlete of the Year, becoming the first skier in American history to capture each honor.
Nichols, of Farmington, N.M., was also in attendance at the ESPYs as a nominee for Best Female Athlete with a Disability. Her nomination for both the ESPY and Women’s Sports Foundation honors were boosted by a 2010 season that included a four-medal haul in Vancouver with gold in both downhill and giant slalom, plus silver in super G and bronze in super combined.
Also an Paralympic gold medalist for wheelchair basketball, Nichols is the first American woman to earn gold in both summer and winter Paralympics.
The awards will be presented at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner on October 12, 2010, at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City.