Three Olympians Nominated for Best Action Sports Athletes; BMX High Air World Record Holder and Women’s Motocross Champion Named as Nominees

Eight of the top performers from the X Games and Winter X Games are nominated for the16th annual ESPYs which will be televised Sunday, July 20, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and available in high definition on ESPN HD. The 2008 ESPYs presented by HUMMER announce the stars of the X Games who are nominated in the Best Male Action Sport Athlete and Best Female Action Sport Athlete categories.

First-time ESPY nominee and BMX champion, Kevin Robinson will be making his 13th X Games appearance this year. “My dad always taught me to finish what you start, and I am far from finished,” said the seven-time X Games medalist. "Thanks X Games for believing in me for the past 14 years. This ESPY nomination is a huge honor.”

The ESPY nominees for Best Action Sport Athlete are:

BEST MALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE NOMINEES

Shaun White, Skateboarding & Snowboarding Fourteen-time Winter and X Games medalist and 2006 Olympic gold medalist, Shaun White is the first X Games athlete to win gold in both summer and winter events for X. Most recently, White won his first gold last year in the Skateboard Vert competition.

Chad Reed, Motocross
X Games Bronze medalist, Chad Reed dominated the 2008 AMA SuperCross circuit winning nine races and earning the overall AMA World Champion. Reed will be making his fifth X Games appearance this summer.

Kevin Robinson, BMX
Seven-time X Games medalist, Kevin Robinson was selected as X Games 13 Most Outstanding Athlete by defending his Gold Medal on the BMX Big Air ramp. Robinson recently made headlines with his high air world record in Central Park – landing a new record of 27 feet.

Kevin Pearce, Snowboarding
Two-time Winter X Games medalist, Kevin Piece is an accomplished snowboarder who won the Arctic Challenge in 2007 and Burton European Open in 2008.

BEST FEMALE ACTION SPORT ATHLETE NOMINEES

Gretchen Bleiler, Snowboarding
Four-time Winter X Games medalist and 2006 Olympic silver medalist, Gretchen Bleiler is the reigning champion in SuperPipe winning gold at the 2008 Winter X Games. Bleiler finished the 2007 FIS World Cup standings in 5th, and the Grand Prix standing in 3rd.

Jessica Patterson, Motocross
Making her first X Games appearance this year, Jessica Patterson will compete in the debut of women’s Moto X Racing. Patterson won the 2007 Women’s Motocross Association title and over her career has won 27 National Championships.

Lindsey Jacobellis, Snowboarding
Six-time Winter X Games medalist and 2006 silver medalist dominated the boardercross circuit this season including gold at the 2008 Winter X Games. Jacobellis won her second consecutive SBX World Championship in 2007.

Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing
X Games Silver medalist, Steph Gilmore made her first X Games appearance last year. The 19 year-old from Australia became the first surfer ever to win an ASP world title in rookie season as well as recorded four Elite Tour victories in 2007.

The ESPY Awards will take place at the new NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, located across the street from STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 16. A complete list of 2008 ESPYs nominees is available to members of the media at www.espnmediazone.com/presskit/espys and for voters at www.espys.tv.

For the first time in several years, a limited amount of $100 ESPYs tickets are available for public purchase through www.ticketmaster.com.

The ESPYs
The ESPYs gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances. The 2008 ESPYs co-presented by HUMMER and Under Armour will include both sport-specific awards such as Best MLB Player and Best WNBA Player and distinguishing “Best in Sport” awards, categories that pit different sports against each other, such as Best Team or Best Female Athlete. The ESPYs are committed to the advancement of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, established by ESPN with the late Jim Valvano and announced at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993.