INDIANAPOLIS, March 15, 2017 – 2016 Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, and Laurie Hernandez of Old Bridge, N.J./MG Elite, have been named an AAU Sullivan Award finalists.
Online voting for the 87th AAU James E. Sullivan Award is open until 11:59 p.m. on March 22. Fans can vote once per day. Click here to vote.
Captain of both the 2012 Fierce Five and 2016 Final Five, Raisman had a stellar Games in Rio, bringing home a gold and two silver medals. Her six career Olympic medals is the second highest total in U.S. gymnastics history behind Shannon Miller’s seven. Raisman garnered all-around, balance beam, and floor silver medals at the 2016 P&G Championships, and placed third in the all-around at the Olympic Trials. She won three medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, including gold with the team and on individually on the floor.
Hernandez, the youngest team member in Rio, helped the U.S. women win the USA’s second-straight Olympic team gold medal and garnered silver in the balance beam final. As a first-year senior, Hernandez had a breakout season, finishing in the top three in the all-around at the P&G Championships and U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She helped the U.S. win team titles at the 2016 Pac Rim Championships and the City of Jesolo Trophy. In total, Hernandez won 13 (5 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze) competition medals in 2016. Laurie is a fan-favorite for her dazzling choreography and dynamic dance elements in the floor exercise routine. Following her success in Rio, Hernandez won the 23rd season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
Three gymnasts have previously won the Sullivan Award: Shawn Johnson (2008), Paul Hamm (2004) and Kurt Thomas (1979).