The largest conference celebrating women’s sports took place in downtown Kansas City on Tuesday Jan. 30. WIN for KC, the creators of Camp WIN, created this event and is celebrating their 30 year anniversary. Their mission is to empower the lives of girls and women by advocating and promoting the lifetime value of sports and fitness while providing opportunities for participation & leadership development.
The WIN for KC Women’s Sports Awards has six awards sponsored by different organizations along with a keynote speaker. This year the keynote speaker was paralympic gold medalist Alana Nichols, the first American woman to win gold medals at both Summer (Wheelchair Basketball) and Winter (Alpine Ski Racing) Paralympic Games.
“Alana’s journey as an athlete is not just about excellence and resilience in the face of adversity, but about finding joy and community through sports,” Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and WIN for KC said. “I am thrilled she is going to share her story with hundreds of women and girls in Kansas City.”
Nichols was paralyzed from the waist down at 17 years old when she over-rotated a backflip while snowboarding. She was a three sport athlete throughout highschool and struggled with not being able to play sports. Nine months later she discovered wheelchair basketball at the University of New Mexico.
“In an instant my life had changed,” Nichols said. “I tried for two years to walk again. It didn’t happen. I was at about my lowest point. I really didn’t want to live any more. I didn’t care to be here.”
Nichols was an alternate in wheelchair basketball in the 2004 Olympics and received a gold medal in 2008. Then she decided to learn how to be an alpine skier. She moved to Colorado and in 2010 only two years after the summer Olympics she won multiple medals in skiing at the Winter Olympics.
“My injury could have been the end of my participation in sports, but in some ways, it was the beginning. As a Paralympian I’ve traveled the world, competed on behalf of my country, and been given a platform to uplift and inspire people facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles,” Nichols said. “Dream bigger than you should I promise you it won’t happen if you don’t think of it first.”
Nichols was one of many women recognized for their contribution to the female sports world. There were six honorees acknowledged during the luncheon along with highschool girls who won a State Competition.
FORVIS BE BOLD AWARD
This award honored the Big 12 Basketball Honorary Coaches. In 2001, these women created the Honorary Coaches program for the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament to support the event and currently raises funds for WIN for KC.
LOCKTON COURAGE AWARD
Helen Ortiz Turley traveled from Guatemala at 17 to create a better life for herself and son in America. In her 30s, she discovered bodybuilding. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer and overcame that challenge and continues to compete, winning multiple gold medals in the International Fitness and BodyBuilding Federation.
UMB LIFETIME SPORTSWOMAN AWARD
67 year old triathlete Sandy Brown, has a passion for pushing herself. She has completed three Ironman competitions along with 26 half Ironman races. Her most recent race was over the summer of 2023 when she competed in the 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Lahti Finland.
KISSICK CONSTRUCTION GAME CHANGER AWARD
Former police officer Kate Hwang suffered a traumatic brain injury while on duty which resulted in her unable to continue in her career at the Kansas City Police Department. She is currently an adaptive sports manager and CrossFit coach who competes in games for athletes with physical disabilities.
HALLMARK CARDS LEADERSHIP AWARD
Over the course of five years the KC MOMENTUM, a synchronized ice skating club has grown exponentially from a dozen to around a hundred girls. All under the leadership of Kameryn Furman.
CHILDREN’S MERCY RISING STAR AWARD
Brinley Hutson had played softball all her life until she had to get her leg amputated at 12 years old. She insisted she would get back on the softball field and sure enough, six months later she was playing softball with a prosthetic leg.
