New York, NY – Last night, espnW celebrated the 25 athletes and influencers on its IMPACT25 list at the inaugural espnW IMPACT25 Gala, presented by Northwestern Mutual. The IMPACT25 is an annual list of individuals who have made the biggest mark on women in sports in the last calendar year.
In December, espnW unveiled the 2015 IMPACT25 list, in which respected athletes and influencers from the sports world were selected by a panel of sports experts and luminaries including women’s sports influencers, former players and ESPN’s own editors and executives.
Special Olympics athlete and IMPACT25 honoree Olivia Quigley took home the first-ever Pegasus Award of Inspiration, honoring her perseverance, accomplishments and fervent will during her battle with stage four breast cancer. Quigley was diagnosed while training for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games and took home two gold medals in the 100-meter run and 400-meter relay, and a silver in the 200-meter race, despite undergoing months of chemotherapy and treatment.
The evening’s program was hosted by ESPN’s Hannah Storm and included entertainment from Grace Potter, lead vocalist of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and best known for singing with Kenny Chesney on the hit duet, “You and Tequila.”
For the first time, espnW also teamed with Marvel Comics on the IMPACT25 list. Marvel created comic book “covers” to portray each honoree as a Marvel superhero. For additional information on IMPACT25 including a full list of honorees, go to: espnW.com/IMPACT25, The Marvel Comics illustrations are available on a dedicated page, sponsored by Walmart at: espnW.com/Marvel.
Via Christy Weir, Special Olympics
202-738-8511
cweir@specialolympics.org
