SI KIDS Sports Kid of the Year

September 25, 2008 - Who will grace the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids by winning the 2008 Sports Kid of the Year? Ten finalists were selected from more than 6,000 nominations and the final decision will be based on fan selection.

Of the current crop of finalists, two are girls:

Nina Lussi from Lake Placid, New York is a 14-year-old ski jumper out of the New York Ski Education Foundation. She was highlighted by Sports Illustrated for Kids for winning the 2008 Junior National Ski Jumping Championships at Junior Olympics in Ishpeming, Michigan last March.

While she was on skis at the age of three, at eight Lussi decided she wanted to try ski jumping and it appears to have been a good choice. Now, six years after her first jump, Lussi is recognized as a top athlete in her age group.

Katharine Holmes is a 15 year old fencer from Washington, D.C. who finished the 2007-08 season ranked Number 1 in the U.S. in women’s epee in the 14-year-old and Cadet (17-and-under) divisions and third at the Olympic Trials. Katharine has maintained a near-perfect grade point average (3.97), was freshman class president, volunteers at a local retirement home, and is working on a project to clean up the Anacostia River.

Holmes’ coach says “Katharine is known for her mastery of a large number of fencing techniques that she uses to react instantly to her opponents actions during competitions. She is a smart, fierce, and focused competitor.”

This week’s top four vote getters will advance to next week’s semifinals. Voting closes at noon ET on September 29, so let your voice be heard and let’s put a girl on the cover of Sports Illustrated Kids!