Freestyle skier and Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu was among elite company at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Paris including World Cup winner Lionel Messi. The annual award ceremony honors individuals and teams who are nominated by 1,000+ members of sports media from more than 70 countries. Gu took home the award for Action Sportsperson of the Year. Here’s what she had to say about the honor:

“Honored to win Action Sportsperson of the Year at Laureus World Sports Awards tonight in Paris. As the first freeskier to win this prestigious award, I hope to share this moment with all those involved with the sport and the industry. Knowing that young people have the power and responsibility to change the world, I want more kids (especially girls & multiracial youth!) to see representation growing and know there is a place for them here. Laureus founder Nelson Mandela once said that “sports have the power to unite people”… Someone’s got to lead the movement – why not us?”


Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....