Declan Farmer Secures Second ESPY Award for Remarkable Achievement in Milan
Declan Farmer continues to enhance his already impressive collection of awards.
Following his contribution to the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team’s fifth consecutive gold medal victory in March, Farmer received the 2026 ESPY Award for Best Athlete with a Disability on Wednesday evening in New York.
This marks Farmer’s fifth nomination for an ESPY and the second occasion he has secured an award. He previously won the Best Male Athlete with a Disability accolade in 2014 after claiming the first of his four Paralympic gold medals.
During the 2026 Games, Farmer established a Paralympic single-tournament record for goals (15) and points (26), earning MVP recognition while aiding the U.S. in securing another gold medal.
The victory in Italy further solidified Farmer’s standing in American records, as he holds the all-time lead in career goals (255), assists (191), and points (446) for Team USA.
The U.S. Olympic Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams, both of which achieved gold medal success at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, were also acknowledged and highlighted during the ESPY Awards.
Both teams received nominations for Best Team, an award ultimately claimed by the New York Knicks after they won their first NBA championship in 53 years.
The U.S. made history by being the first nation to win gold medals in men’s and women’s Olympic ice hockey as well as Paralympic sled hockey in the same year.
The U.S. men’s team secured its third gold medal and its first in 46 years. Jack Hughes completed the achievement with a golden goal in overtime, leading the U.S. to a 2-1 victory over rival Canada and finishing the tournament with an undefeated record.
The U.S. women’s team claimed the country’s third Olympic gold medal and its first since 2018 with a 2-1 overtime win against Canada.
Hilary Knight forced the game into overtime with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, before Megan Keller netted the golden goal in overtime.
ESPN showcased highlights of the men’s and women’s gold-medal triumphs, featuring in-game action and celebrations, at the start of the show and prior to announcing the Best Team award.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby received the ESPY Award for Best Play for his game-winning tip-in during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which concluded the largest comeback in Finals history.
Hughes and Keller were both nominated for their overtime goals against Canada.
Hughes scored by firing a shot that slipped beneath the left pad of Jordan Binnington 1:41 into overtime, while Keller beat Claire Thompson off the rush and slid a backhander past Ann-Renée Desbiens at 4:07 of overtime.
WNBA star A’ja Wilson was awarded the ESPY for Best Athlete in Women’s Sports. Knight, captain of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team, was also nominated for this honor.
Knight redirected a point shot from Laila Edwards with 2:04 remaining in regulation to send the gold-medal match into overtime. This goal marked Knight’s 15th career Olympic goal and 33rd career point, setting a new record for all-time goals and points at the Games.
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson received the first ESPY of the evening for Best Championship Performance. Connor Hellebuyck and Aerin Frankel, goaltenders for the U.S. men’s and women’s teams, respectively, also received nominations for this award.
Hellebuyck made a spectacular save with the paddle of his stick to deny Canada’s Devon Toews from close range, keeping the gold-medal game tied early in the third period. Hellebuyck, who was honored as Best Goalie at the Olympics with a 1.18 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage, recorded 41 saves in the gold-medal match.
Frankel stopped 30 shots against Canada, leading the women’s team to the gold medal. She allowed only two goals in her five starts, concluding the tournament with a 0.39 goals-against average and a .979 save percentage.
Additionally, at the ESPY Awards, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield stood alongside tennis icon Billie Jean King to present the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award.
“It’s such an honor to stand alongside Billie Jean tonight knowing that the barriers she broke through are the foundation of so much progress for women’s sports and sports at large,” Coyne Schofield stated.
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
