BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Professional racecar driver Danica Patrick has been chosen by Nickelodeon to receive the Legend Award at this year’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2018, the summer’s slimiest, surprise-filled sports showdown for kids. Patrick, who became the first female winner in IndyCar Series history, will receive the award in recognition of her trailblazer achievements and outstanding sportsmanship on and off the racetrack. Kids’ Choice Sports 2018 is hosted by Chris Paul and airs Saturday, July 21, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
Said Patrick, “It’s such an honor to receive the Kids’ Choice Sports Legend Award from Nickelodeon. I decided when I was 10 years old I wanted to be a racecar driver. I dreamed big, believed in myself, worked hard, took chances and made the most of every opportunity. Today, I’m honored to be a positive influence on kids and encourage them to stay true to themselves and what they believe in; keep dreaming big and working hard. Bring on the gold slime!”
Top nods for the fifth annual show were also announced today as female athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson, and Mikaela Shiffrin all scored three noms each. First-time superstar athletes receiving nominations include: Lonzo Ball, Danny Amendola, Nick Foles, Alex and Maia Shibutani, Allisha Gray, Aaron Judge and Adam Rippon. Additional competitors vying for coveted blimps include: Lindsey Vonn, Cristiano Ronaldo, Venus Williams, Katie Ledecky, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Rob Gronkowski and Von Miller.
Kids can vote on three new categories this year including: “Nothing But Net,” highlighting athletes who score the shots; “Heavy Hitters,” celebrating the power-hitters; and “Winter Wonders,” featuring those who dominate the cold weather. Additional categories will be announced closer to the show.
The Legend Award honors athletes who are the ultimate role models to kids across the globe, inspiring generations year after year. Patrick, who is the fifth athlete to receive this honor, joins a prestigious list of past recipients including most decorated Olympian of all time Michael Phelps, five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant, soccer legend David Beckham and five-time World Series champion Derek Jeter.
Click HERE
for Danica Patrick’s official website.
Click HERE for
Chris Paul’s official website.
The categories and nominees for Kids’ Choice Sports 2018 are:
FAVORITE MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETE
They
are, simply put, the best athletes of the year. Driving the offense or
barreling through the toughest defense, they never cease to amaze fans
with their athleticism, moves and mastery of the game. In short, the
nominees for these two categories represent the best male and female
athletes currently competing in traditional sports.
FAVORITE MALE ATHLETE
Cristiano Ronaldo (La Liga,
Real Madrid C.F., Portugal National Football team)
James Harden
(NBA, Houston Rockets)
José Altuve (MLB, Houston Astros)
LeBron
James (NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Sidney Crosby (NHL,
Pittsburgh Penguins)
Tom Brady (NFL, New England Patriots)
FAVORITE FEMALE ATHLETE
Alex Morgan (NWSL, Orlando
Pride, US Women’s National Team)
Chloe Kim (Professional
Snowboarder, US Team)
Jamie Anderson (Professional
Snowboarder, US Team)
Katie Ledecky (Competitive Swimmer, US
Team)
Mikaela Shiffrin (Skiing, US Ski Team)
Sloane
Stephens (WTA)
Venus Williams (WTA)
KING OF SWAG AND QUEEN OF SWAG
All
professional athletes do incredible things, but there are a select few
who also look incredible while they’re doing it. The male and female
nominees in these two categories are the best dressed and most stylin’
athletes off the court.
KING OF SWAG
Adam Rippon (Professional Figure Skater,
US Team)
Chris Paul (NBA, Houston Rockets)
Neymar Jr.
(France Ligue 1, Brazil National Football Team, Paris Saint-Germain)
Odell
Beckham Jr. (NFL, New York Giants)
P.K. Subban (NHL,
Nashville Predators)
Russell Westbrook (NBA, Oklahoma City
Thunder)
Travis Kelce (NFL, Kansas City Chiefs)
QUEEN OF SWAG
Brighton Zeuner (Professional
Skateboarder)
Ibtihaj Muhammad (Fencing, US Team)
Jamie
Anderson (Professional Snowboarder)
Michelle Wie (LPGA)
Serena
Williams (WTA)
Skylar Diggins-Smith (WNBA, Dallas Wings)
Sydney
Leroux (NWSL, Orlando Pride)
BEST CANNON
Some of the most
incredible arms in sports belong to athletes from the worlds of baseball
and football. This category honors pitchers and quarterbacks with the
strongest arms in the game.
Aaron Rodgers (NFL, Green Bay Packers)
Clayton Kershaw
(MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Corey Kluber (MLB, Cleveland
Indians)
Dak Prescott (NFL, Dallas Cowboys)
Justin
Verlander (MLB, Houston Astros)
Russell Wilson (NFL,
Seattle Seahawks)
BIGGEST POWERHOUSE
This award
honors those players that are an undeniable force on the field, court
and in the ring. Like a freight train or a Mack Truck, these athletes
have so much power in their play that they cannot be stopped. They are
the power forwards that slam dunk with such force they can shatter a
backboard, the football players that move with such power that it takes
an entire team to stop them and the MMA fighter that is unstoppable in
the ring.
Anthony Davis (NBA, New Orleans Pelicans)
Draymond Green
(NBA, Golden State Warriors)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (NBA,
Milwaukee Bucks)
Joel Embiid (NBA, Philadelphia 76ers)
Rob
Gronkowski (NFL, New England Patriots)
Rose Namajunas
(MMA)
Von Miller (NFL, Denver Broncos)
HEAVY HITTER
This award
celebrates the power hitter athletes with the biggest swings and
strongest shots on the baseball field, tennis court, ice rink and golf
course. These athletes have unbeatable strength and it shows with their
impressive, game-winning hits.
Aaron Judge (MLB, New York Yankees)
Alex Ovechkin
(NHL, Washington Capitals)
Bryce Harper (MLB, Washington
Nationals)
Dustin Johnson (Golf)
Giancarlo Stanton
(MLB, New York Yankees)
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (U.S.
Women’s National Ice Hockey Team)
Venus Williams (WTA)
CLUTCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Teammates
rely on these athletes to make the plays when it counts the most. Their
participation is clutch to the success of their teams, and the fans know
it. The nominees in this category come from a variety of sports and
alter the game just by being on the field.
Carli Lloyd (NWSL, Sky Blue FC, US Women’s National Team)
Chris
Paul (NBA, Houston Rockets)
Katie Ledecky (Competitive
Swimmer, US Team)
Kevin Durant (NBA, Golden State Warriors)
Lionel
Messi (La Liga, FC Barcelona, Argentina National Football Team)
Nick
Foles (NFL, Philadelphia Eagles)
DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME
They
flip, fly and soar their way into the highlight reels of the X Games and
other action sports competitions on the regular, and kids can’t get
enough. They’re the death-defying athletes who risk their lives and
limbs every day to accomplish the impossible.
Chloe Kim (Professional Snowboarder, US Team)
Colton
Walker (BMX)
Ibtihaj Muhammad (Fencing, US Team)
Lakey
Peterson (World Surf League)
Mirai Nagasu (Professional
Figure Skaters, US Team)
Nyjah Huston (Professional
Skateboarder)
Shaun White (Professional Snowboarder, US Team)
FAVORITE NEWCOMER
The
excitement surrounding a new sports prospect can be incredible,
especially when that prospect starts to deliver on the anticipation of
greatness. The nominees in this category represent the first or second
year pros who have lived up to the hype--in other words, the newbie that
is most likely to succeed.
Aaron Judge (MLB, New York Yankees)
Allisha Gray (WNBA,
Dallas Wings)
Ben Simmons (NBA, Philadelphia 76ers)
Deshaun
Watson (NFL, Houston Texans)
Donovan Mitchell (NBA, Utah
Jazz)
Lonzo Ball (NBA, Los Angeles Lakers)
Red
Gerard (Professional Snowboarder, US Team)
HANDS OF GOLD
Every season has
its most-talked-about, spectacular or awe-inspiring catches and saves.
The nominees in this category represent athletes from the MLB, NFL, NHL
and U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey team. These athletes have made the most
unbelievable, highlight reel-worthy catches and incredible saves of the
year.
Antonio Brown (NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Danny Amendola (NFL,
Miami Dolphins)
Julio Jones (NFL, Atlanta Falcons)
Maddie
Rooney (U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team)
Nolan Arenado (MLB,
Colorado Rockies)
Pekka Rinne (NHL, Nashville Predators)
NEED FOR SPEED
This award
honors those players that live life in the fast lane. Whether it’s
skiing, skating, driving or sledding, these athletes bring the fast and
furious to the race. They are the lightning quick speed demons that
won’t stop until they’re in first, and the rest of the competition eats
their dust.
Chris Mazdzer (Luge, US Team)
Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR)
John-Henry
Krueger (Speed Skating, US Team)
Kyle Busch (NASCAR)
Lindsey
Vonn (Skiing, US Team)
Mikaela Shiffrin (Skiing, US Team)
SICKEST MOVES
Professional
athletes make it look so easy that sometimes fans forget the sheer
agility required to play with the best of the best--until they see the
nominees of this category do their thing. They’re the soccer players
with the mind-blowing dribble, the hockey players who can do amazing
things on skates, the football players who dazzle us with their fancy
footwork, or the basketball players with the best ball handling skills.
Alex Morgan (NWSL, Orlando Pride, US Women’s National Team)
Alex
Ovechkin (NHL, Washington Capitals)
Giannis Antetokounmpo
(NBA, Milwaukee Bucks)
Le’Veon Bell (NFL, Pittsburgh
Steelers)
Russell Westbrook (NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder)
Stephen
Curry (NBA, Golden State Warriors)
Zlatan Ibrahimović
(MLS, LA Galaxy)
NOTHING BUT NET
You need to
score to win, and these nominees are the ones scoring the shots! This
category honors the most accurate scorers in the game. These are the
players who maneuver through the most striking defensive plays and still
make the shot, who can come out of a foul and still make the goal, and
who work hard at every practice to play an amazingly accurate game.
Alex Morgan (NWSL, Orlando Pride, US Women’s National Team)
Chris
Paul (NBA, Houston Rockets)
James Harden (NBA, Houston
Rockets)
J.J. Redick (NBA Philadelphia 76ers)
Klay
Thompson (NBA, Golden State Warriors)
Kyle Korver (NBA,
Cleveland Cavaliers)
Patrick Kane (NHL, Chicago Blackhawks)
Patrik
Laine (NHL, Winnipeg Jets)
WINTER WONDERS
These athletes
dominate the cold. Their unparalleled strength, grace and agility turn
into wins on the slopes and on the ice, proving that these elite winter
athletes are the best in the world.
Adam Rippon (Professional Figure Skater, US Team)
Alex
and Maia Shibutani (Professional Figure Skaters, US Team)
Chloe
Kim (Professional Snowboarder, US Team)
Jamie Anderson
(Professional Snowboarder, US Team)
Mikaela Shiffrin
(Skiing, US Team)
Red Gerard (Professional Snowboarder, US
Team)
Shaun White (Professional Snowboarder, US Team)
KCS2018.com will serve as the official destination for Kids’ Choice Sports 2018. Starting today, kids will be able to cast their votes for their favorite athletes and all-star moments from the past year. After voting, it’s game on with all-star polls, sports-themed short-form videos, trivia, photos and more for kids to check out online. Additionally, on July 21, kids will have the chance to play along and root for their favorite athletes during the show on KCS2018.com.
Sponsors for Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2018 include Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Crest®, milk it! Olive Garden® and Verizon.
Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2018 is produced by Done and Dusted in association with Nickelodeon Productions. Jay Schmalholz and Shelly Sumpter Gillyard are executive producers. Constance Schwartz and Michael Strahan of SMAC Entertainment will serve as executive producers, alongside Ian Stewart and Hamish Hamilton of Done and Dusted, with Hamilton also serving as director of the show.
Nickelodeon, now in its 39th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated kids’ basic cable network for 22 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).
