(ESPN) The Ashe Award is one of the most prestigious in sports. Recipients reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost.
The award is inspired by the life that Ashe lived, using his fame and stature to advocate for human rights, although, at the time, those positions may have been unpopular and were often controversial.
From speaking out against apartheid in South Africa to revealing to the world his struggle with AIDS, Ashe never backed away from a difficult issue, even though doing so would have been easier.
Winners of the Ashe Award strive to carry on Ashe's legacy in their own lives -- inspired by those who do so each day.
Past Winners:
1993-Jim Valvano
1994-Steve Palermo
1995-Howard Cosell
1996-Loretta Claiborne
1997-Muhammad Ali
1998-Dean Smith
1999-Billie Jean King
2000-William David Sanders
2001-Cathy Freeman
2002-Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick
2003-Pat Tillman and Kevin Tillman
2004-George Weah
2005-Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah and Jim MacLaren
2006-Roia Ahmad and Shamila Kohestani
2007-Trevor Ringland and David Cullen from Peace Players International
2008-Tommie Smith and John Carlos
2009-Nelson Mandela
2010-Family of Ed Thomas
2011-Dewey Bozella
2012-Pat Summitt
2013-Robin Roberts
2014-Michael Sam
2015-Caitlyn Jenner
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