Brenna Huckaby Wins Her Second ESPY at ESPN's 2024 Awards

On Thursday, July 11th, Brenna Huckaby took home the second ESPY of her lauded career. The three-time Paralympic gold medalist and five-time world champion has been nominated for an ESPY three times in total. She won 2024 Best Athlete with a Disability. The award is well-deserved, as Brenna is one of the most successful para athletes of all time and coming off one of her most successful competitive seasons in 2023-24.

Last season, the Park City resident added seven World Cup wins and ten podiums to her record, competing in both boardercross and banked slalom. She won all three Crystal Globes, a remarkable feat, putting an exclamation mark on her season that will surely only fuel her continued momentum.

While Brenna's undoubtedly a competitive force, she's also a vocal disability inclusion advocate and consistently works to raise up others. Upon receiving the 2024 ESPY, Brenna wrote on her Instagram, noting her fellow nominees, her appreciation, and also the hurdles of disabled athletes she is working to positively affect:

Being nominated and winning the 2024 ESPY for Best Athlete with a Disability is a huge honor! Out of the thousands of incredible disabled athletes, only four are nominated for this award (2 men and 2 women), so it’s hard to fathom how statistically challenging it is for disabled athletes to receive this type of recognition. Unfortunately, this is also representative of many of the hurdles that disabled athletes, and our community as a whole, face in sports and society. While we have made good progress in amplifying disabled athletes’ stories and achievements, we still have a long way to go, and I hope one day in the near future that the recognition and attention can match the athleticism and accomplishment of so many talented athletes.

In the meantime, thank you to the ESPYS and for everyone who voted for me. Thank you to everyone who watches disabled sports, who knows our names, and who buys our merch (maybe i should make merch 💅). Seriously, thank you for the continued support and may the rest of the world catch up.

Congratulations to the other nominees, @oksanamasters a pioneer and incredible athlete who I can’t fan girl over enough. @ezrafrech who i’ve watched grow from a boy dreaming about a Paralympic career to making huge strides both professionally and opening doors collegiately. And to @jaymo_blackwell who is just getting started with a bang none of us are prepared for.

The talented boarder goes on to thank her family and coaches:

I couldn’t have done any of this without my husband Tristan @ykuwtt behind the scenes always cheering me on, navigating children and childcare when I am away, and supporting my completely irrational dreams that one day, with his partnership, will come true. I love you & thank you for helping me raise our brave girls.

Thank you to my coaches this last season with @usparaskisnowboard . @skiddydundidit for advocating for the agency of each athlete. @lane.clegg for pushing me to work harder and smarter on snow. @grahamwatanabe for the conference boost to do hard things and keep pushing for more. & @coach_neff for making me strong enough to do whatever my snow coaches say

In addition to her competition and training schedule, Brenna speaks often on panels and at events, sharing her story of athleticism, while advocating for disability inclusion, athlete-mothers, body acceptance, mental wellness, and more. For more on Brenna's multi-faceted work, check out www.brennahuckaby.com .