The prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award is a recognition bestowed upon individuals who have transcended sports through acts of courage and humanitarian efforts. Below, we highlight some of the most impactful recipients honored over the years.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics, was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at The 2017 ESPYS. Her son and Special Olympics chairman Timothy Shriver accepted the award on behalf of his late mother.
Zaevion Dobson
Zaevion Dobson, a 15-year-old high school football player, died in December 2015 after he jumped on top of three girls to shield them from a spray of bullets. He was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the 2016 ESPYS.
Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner is the 2015 recipient of ESPN’s prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which honors people whose contributions transcend sports through courageous action.
Michael Sam
Michael Sam received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2014. Sam was the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL.
Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts, the 2013 Arthur Ashe Courage Award recipient, broke into a primarily white male’s world of sports journalism as a black woman.
Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2012. She was the head basketball coach for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers from 1974 to 2012.
Dewey Bozella
Dewey Bozella didn’t receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2011 because of something he did, but rather something he didn’t do.
Ed Thomas
The family of Ed Thomas was given the 2010 award in honor of their father, who was fatally shot in 2009.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2009 for his efforts to reconcile South Africa through the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos
U.S. runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2008 for their protest during the 1968 Olympics.
Trevor Ringland and David Cullen
Trevor Ringland and David Cullen received the 2007 award for their work with Peace Players International.
George Weah
George Weah was the 1995 FIFA World Cup Player of the Year and received the 2004 Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his humanitarian work.
Pat and Kevin Tillman
Pat and Kevin Tillman received the award in 2003 after giving up their professional athletic careers to join the military.
United Flight 93 Heroes
The passengers of United Flight 93 were remembered posthumously with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2002.
William David Sanders
William David Sanders, a teacher and coach at Columbine High School, lost his life in the 1999 Columbine shooting.
Billie Jean King
Tennis legend Billie Jean King received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 1999 for her advocacy of women’s sports.
