DHL: Olympic Spirit - Spirit Award

The U.S. Olympic Spirit Award was created in 1968 by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) to honor the extraordinary achievements of the United States’ Olympic athletes, celebrating more than gold-medal winning performances.

The U.S. Paralympic Spirit Award was first presented in 2000, recognizing the excellence and efforts of the athletes with physical disabilities participating in Paralympic sports.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Awards recognize athletes and teams who best exemplify the Olympic Spirit both in competition and in their personal lives.

Past U.S. Olympic Spirit Award winners include:

1968 —	Billy Kidd, skiing // Bob Beamon, athletics
1972 —	Mike Curran, ice hockey // Dave Wottle, athletics
1976 —	Andy Mill, skiing // Margaret Murdock, shooting
1980 —	Tai Babilonia, Randy Gardner, figure skating // Tracy Caulkins, swimming
1984 —	Scott Hamilton, figure skating // Jeff Blatnick, wrestling
1988 —	Dan Jansen, speedskating // Greg Louganis, diving
1992 —	Paul Wylie, figure skating // Gail Devers, athletics
1994 —	Dan Jansen, speedskating
1996 —	Carl Lewis, athletics // Kerri Strug, gymnastics
2000 —	Rulon Gardner, wrestling // Laura Wilkinson, diving
2002 —	Chris Klug, snowboarding // Jill Bakken, Vonetta Flowers, bobsled
2004 —	Paul Hamm, gymnastics // Misty May, Kerri Walsh, beach volleyball

Past U.S. Paralympic Spirit Award winners include:

2000 —	Marlon Shirley, athletics // Pamela Fernandes, Al Whaley, cycling
2002 —	Sarah Will, alpine skiing // U.S. Sledge Hockey Team
2004 —	April Holmes, athletics // Dan Nicholson, cycling