Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Vincent Hancock’s 2015 season got even better as the United States Olympic Committee announced the 2014/2015 finalists for the Team USA Awards, which recognize the outstanding achievements of Team USA athletes year-round.
Hancock is being recognized for a stellar 2015 in Skeet shooting that included: two World Cup wins; a Silver medal at World Cup Finals; second at USA Shooting Nationals; an unprecedented third World Championship crown; and an automatic nomination to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team.
“I’m extremely flattered to be considered one of America’s top athletes over this past year.” Hancock said. “With gold in Rio as my next goal, it was important for me to begin that quest putting forth elite-level performances in 2015. I’m hopeful this recognition will bring the right type of attention to the shooting sports and showcase the accomplishments of all my teammates as we set our sights on Rio.”
In order for Hancock to try and become the first USA Shooting athlete to win the the USOC’s coveted Athlete of the Year award, he’s going to need the help of his fans and fans of the Shooting sports who are invited to vote for their favorite athletes and teams at TeamUSA.org/Awards through Friday, November 20th.
Athletes and teams considered for the Best of the Year were finalists for Best of the Month honors, dating back to the fall of the previous year and coinciding with the sport calendar. A USOC nominating committee then selected the top-five finalists in the individual categories and top three in the team categories to advance to the voting round.
Online fan voting at TeamUSA.org/Awards accounts for 50 percent of the final tally, while members of the Olympic and Paralympic family – including an esteemed panel of Olympic and Paralympic journalists – account for the other 50 percent.
The six award winners will be announced during the Team USA Awards presented by Dow, Best of the Year, to be held December 10th at the University of Pennsylvania’s Houston Hall in Philadelphia.
The other four 2014/2015 Finalists for Male Olympic Athlete of the Year are: wrestler Jordan Burroughs, track and field athlete Ashton Eaton, skier Ted Ligety, and ice hockey player Auston Matthews.