Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Chip Bromfield, ProMotion Ltd.
Jesse Knori Named Finalist for Honda Inspiration Award
May 08, 2017 | Skiing
She is one of three finalists, winner will be announced on Thursday, May 11
BOULDER — University of Colorado women's Nordic skier Jesse Knori was named Monday as one of three finalists for the Honda Inspiration Award as announced by Judy Sweet, CWSA Board Member and Chair of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) Awards Inspiration Award committee.
The Honda Inspiration Award winner for the Class of 2017 will be selected from these three finalists by the CWSA Board of Directors and announced this week. A winner has been selected annually for the past 29 years and will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 26, 2017, in the Founders' Room at the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California in downtown Los Angeles, as part of the two-day Honda Awards event.
The other two finalists for the award with Knori are Bailey Scott, junior on Alabama's swimming and diving team, and Nicole Stafford, senior on Stanford's swimming and diving team.
The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 11.
The Honda Inspiration Award is given to a deserving female student-athlete in Division I, II or III who has experienced extraordinary physical and/or emotional adversity, injury and/or illness, or experienced extraordinary personal sacrifice during her college enrollment as a student-athlete and yet returns to athletic success.
"On behalf of the CWSA Inspiration Committee, I am pleased to announce the three finalists for the Class of 2017 Inspiration Award," said Sweet. "We reviewed all 17 nominations, and while each one had a truly inspiring story, these three finalists most fully met the criteria for the Inspiration Award. We applaud their courage and strong resilience in overcoming their challenges and subsequently competing successfully in their sport."
At the age of 12, in 2006, Knori was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes the body's immune system to mistakenly attack the joints. As she grew older, the disease advanced to where she could no longer compete in some of the sports she participated in as a youth (volleyball, figure skating) which led her to Nordic skiing and the University of Colorado.
The disease affects everything from her spine and neck to her fingers, knees and ankles, a challenge for any athlete and especially a cross country skier. Because of her autoimmune disease, she is more susceptible to illness and a long bout of whooping cough and mononucleosis caused her to miss her entire freshman year of training.
The summer after her freshman year, Knori's father passed away suddenly from an accident.
Skiing and her teammates helped her deal with the tragedy and despite her collegiate adversities, she earned All-America honors in both her junior and senior seasons. She was a first team All-American in 2016 after finishing fifth in the classic race at the NCAA Championship. In 2017, she earned second-team honors by finishing eighth in the 5K classic race.
Knori is set to graduate this week with her degree in landscape architecture studies.
Read all about Knori's story of perseverance in this article by John Meyer from the Denver Post: Link to story
And more in a story from CUBuffs.com: Link to story
Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The CWSA said, "The Honda Inspiration Award winner holds a special place in our hearts as she is an inspiring and courageous woman representing her school and intercollegiate athletics in a very significant way. The finalists this year are no exception. Each has overcome significant adversity and still returned to compete with excellence. These women serve as role models for all that is possible."
The Honda Inspiration Award winner for the Class of 2017 will be selected from these three finalists by the CWSA Board of Directors and announced this week. A winner has been selected annually for the past 29 years and will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 26, 2017, in the Founders' Room at the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California in downtown Los Angeles, as part of the two-day Honda Awards event.
The other two finalists for the award with Knori are Bailey Scott, junior on Alabama's swimming and diving team, and Nicole Stafford, senior on Stanford's swimming and diving team.
The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 11.
The Honda Inspiration Award is given to a deserving female student-athlete in Division I, II or III who has experienced extraordinary physical and/or emotional adversity, injury and/or illness, or experienced extraordinary personal sacrifice during her college enrollment as a student-athlete and yet returns to athletic success.
"On behalf of the CWSA Inspiration Committee, I am pleased to announce the three finalists for the Class of 2017 Inspiration Award," said Sweet. "We reviewed all 17 nominations, and while each one had a truly inspiring story, these three finalists most fully met the criteria for the Inspiration Award. We applaud their courage and strong resilience in overcoming their challenges and subsequently competing successfully in their sport."
At the age of 12, in 2006, Knori was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes the body's immune system to mistakenly attack the joints. As she grew older, the disease advanced to where she could no longer compete in some of the sports she participated in as a youth (volleyball, figure skating) which led her to Nordic skiing and the University of Colorado.
The disease affects everything from her spine and neck to her fingers, knees and ankles, a challenge for any athlete and especially a cross country skier. Because of her autoimmune disease, she is more susceptible to illness and a long bout of whooping cough and mononucleosis caused her to miss her entire freshman year of training.
The summer after her freshman year, Knori's father passed away suddenly from an accident.
Skiing and her teammates helped her deal with the tragedy and despite her collegiate adversities, she earned All-America honors in both her junior and senior seasons. She was a first team All-American in 2016 after finishing fifth in the classic race at the NCAA Championship. In 2017, she earned second-team honors by finishing eighth in the 5K classic race.
Knori is set to graduate this week with her degree in landscape architecture studies.
Read all about Knori's story of perseverance in this article by John Meyer from the Denver Post: Link to story
And more in a story from CUBuffs.com: Link to story
Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The CWSA said, "The Honda Inspiration Award winner holds a special place in our hearts as she is an inspiring and courageous woman representing her school and intercollegiate athletics in a very significant way. The finalists this year are no exception. Each has overcome significant adversity and still returned to compete with excellence. These women serve as role models for all that is possible."
The CWSA, in its 41st year, honors the nation's top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.5 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs at the institutions.
Players Mentioned
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