Alysa Liu Wins Breakthrough Athlete ESPY at New York Ceremony

Q: Which of this year's inspirational ESPY honorees had the most impactful and enduring story of perseverance?

Jim Abbott had the most directly enduring story of perseverance among this year’s inspirational ESPY honorees. The clearest reason is the nature of the honor itself: Abbott received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, which is specifically reserved for overcoming profound adversity. Born without a right hand, Abbott built a 10-year Major League Baseball career and became one of the most visible examples of elite athletic achievement despite a major physical limitation. His story has remained relevant well beyond his playing days because it continues to serve as a model for athletes and children with disabilities. Jason Collins’ posthumous Arthur Ashe Courage Award also recognized a deeply consequential legacy. Collins broke a historic barrier in 2013 as the first openly gay active player in a major North American men’s professional sports league, and his advocacy for inclusion gave his story broad cultural impact beyond basketball. His later public battle with brain cancer added another layer of personal courage. If the question is about perseverance in the strictest sense, Abbott stands out most clearly because his entire career embodied sustained resilience against a lifelong challenge. If the emphasis is broader social impact, Collins has the strongest case. On balance, Abbott is the best answer for perseverance, while Collins represents the most far-reaching legacy of courage and change.

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 16

Alysa Liu accepted the Best Break Through Athlete award at the 2026 ESPYS on Wednesday night in New York.
The annual show returned to New York after spending a couple of decades in Los Angeles, with this year's ceremony held at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater.
The ESPYS honor the year's top athletes, teams and sports moments, making Liu's win part of one of U.S. sports' highest-profile awards nights.